Latest: Barricades block the streets of Dubai neighbourhood on lockdown
One of Dubai's oldest districts has been placed in lockdown for two weeks to aid efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Roads leading to Al Ras, in Deira, will be sealed off and metros will not stop in the area from Tuesday to allow for an ongoing sterilisation programme to be stepped up.
Dubai Police said people who were not residents of Al Ras were prohibited from travelling to the area.
Local residents will receive essential supplies from Dubai Health Authority, police said.
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The entrance to the famous gold souq was barricaded on Tuesday. Shopkeepers and residents must remain in their homes for two weeks. All photos by Reem Mohammed / The National -
Police close off Baniyas Road, which runs along the Creek on the Deira side -
Police use barricades to seal off the souq district -
A man stands on his balcony in the Baniyas neighbourhood. Metro stations including Baniyas Square on the Green Line have closed and services will run through the underground station without stopping -
Police officers patrol barricades preventing access to the gold souq and buildings inside the quarantine zone -
The quarantine is in place to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure anyone who develops symptoms is easily identified -
A man tosses bread to a customer on the locked down side of the barrier -
The underpass near the dhow docks is usually packed with shoppers and passengers from the nearby cruise terminal -
Dubai Health Authority said it would provide essential goods for everyone inside the quarantine zone. Most businesses appeared to be shut on Tuesday -
Residents were warned to avoid the area so even businesses on the safe side have closed due to lack of demand -
Residents on their balconies inside the lockdown area on Tuesday. They began 14 days of isolation on Tuesday -
Police said once someone enters the area, they cannot come out for two weeks -
The streets of the old town are normally packed with shoppers and guests from the nearby cruise terminal, which closed last month until further notice -
The Al Ras area of Deira is one of the most densely populated parts of the city -
Police officers turn traffic away from the area on Tuesday afternoon -
Police said anyone who enters the district, for any reason, will not be allowed to leave -
Streets along the Creek were deserted -
Every narrow alleyway was blocked and guarded by officers -
Hundreds of personnel will be used to sanitise streets, buildings and public areas
They said they wanted to do everything possible to protect the area’s residents.
The heightened restrictions were announced by Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.
Officials said the tough measures were necessary due to the high density of population in the area.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority announced the main entrances leading to the area from Al Musalla, Al Khaleej and Baniyas Streets would be closed.
The plan also includes the temporary closure of three stations on the Dubai Metro Green Line. They are Al Ras, Palm Deira and Baniyas Square.
Bus route diversions
The metro will pass through the area without stopping at the stations.
All bus routes to Baniyas will be diverted to Al Musalla, Al Khaleej and Omar Bin Al Khattab streets, and all taxi movement to the area will be restricted.
The UAE confirmed earlier this week that a major clean-up of roads and streets would be extended until the morning of April 5.
Residents must stay in doors - unless for essential travel such as hospital appointments - from 8pm to 6am each day while the operation is in place.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced that a Centre for Coronavirus Control would be established under the chairmanship of Dr Amer Al Sharif.
The new centre will include representatives from the Ministry of Health and Prevention and other relevant authorities in the emirate.
It will be prepare strategic plans and recommendations to battle pandemics, including Covid-19, and develop rapid intervention plans in co-ordination with competent bodies at the public and private sectors.
