Coronavirus: Dubai residents need move permits to leave home during sterilisation campaign

People found violating the directive will be fined or imprisoned

Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area of Sharjah near the Ajman border. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National

Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area.

Sharjah Municipal staff spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area.

Sharjah Municipal staff prepare to spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area.

Sharjah Municipal staff ready themselves and prepare to head to out at the main Environment Services Department of the Sharjah Municipality.

Sharjah Municipal staff prepare to spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area.

Sharjah Municipal staff prepare to spray and disinfect the sidewalk along the Al Muntazah Street area.

Sharjah Municipal staff ready themselves and prepare to head to out at the main Environment Services Department of the Sharjah Municipality.

Sharjah Municipal staff ready themselves and prepare to head to out at the main Environment Services Department of the Sharjah Municipality.

Sharjah Municipal staff prepare spray canisters at the main Environment Services Department of the Sharjah Municipality to disinfect the streets after the mandatory 8 pm curfew.

Dubai residents need permits to leave home during a nationwide sterilisation programme to contain the coronavirus over the weekend.

People can obtain a clearance for urgent work, to purchase food and medicine by logging on to a website launched by the emirate's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.

Only people who register on the website and have the necessary approval would be allowed to leave their residence.

The National Sterilisation Programme began on Thursday night with workers on foot and in vehicles spraying streets.

The drive will be undertaken daily between 8pm to 6am until Sunday morning and is being carried out in coordination between local and federal authorities across the Emirates.

People working in critical sectors including energy, communications, medical, police, army, pharmaceutical, electricity and water, airport and immigration, banking, mass media, construction and petrol stations would be allowed to leave home during this period without registering on the website.

They must carry their Emirates ID and work identification cards for verification.

Residents were warned to stay at home over the weekend to ensure an effective disinfection programme and to protect families from harsh cleaning chemicals used.

Those found violating the directive would be subject to legal action including fines and imprisonment.

Traffic will be permitted to operate normally during the day and restrictions would apply during the intensive clean-up programme.

Public transport services including the metro will be suspended and roads sealed off during the cleaning drive.

Taxi services through the Careem, Uber applications and buses will be allowed to operate by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority only on specified routes covering government and private hospitals during the sterilisation campaign.

Food outlets such as cooperative societies, supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies will remain open.

Residents who need to leave home during the disinfection can register with details of their mobile number, Emirates identification, car registration and details of the purpose and destination of their journey on move.gov.ae