Coronavirus: UAE public urged to abide by rules after 30,000 Covid-19 breaches this year

Citizens and residents told to play their part in leading recovery from the pandemic

Families walk in Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi private school staff wait to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of a drive organised by Adek. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at St Paul’s Church in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A coronavirus vaccine shipment is unloaded from an Emirates aircraft at Dubai International Airport on February 1. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which also includes logistics giant DP World. AFP

A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A woman waits for her turn at a vaccination centre at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A man is registered before receiving a dose of vaccine at a centre in Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A health worker checks a man's temperature before he receives a dose of vaccine. AFP

A commuter wears a face mask while travelling on the Dubai Metro. AP

More than 30,000 breaches of Covid-19 safety rules were reported in the UAE this year, prompting a renewed call for the public to act responsibly.

Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, urged people to abide by Covid-19 rules and help lead the recovery from the pandemic.

He said most offences involved people failing to wear face masks or adhere to social distancing practices and taking part in gatherings.

Police in Dubai stepped up efforts to combat rule-breaking parties at homes and in public.

The force broke up parties at a desert camp, on a yacht and at a private residence in recent days.

"We affirm the importance of abiding by all precautionary measures to guarantee the welfare of the community," said Dr Al Dhaheri on Wednesday.

"The recovery starts with steps taken by you [the public]."

Dr Al Dhaheri praised the public for their strong response to the nationwide vaccination campaign.

The UAE aims to immunise half of its population by the end of the March.

"The availability of vaccines is one of the biggest challenges of the pandemic," he said. "Vaccines are free for everyone. We all have to be responsible and accept the vaccine."

He said officials had accelerated testing rates in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

"These are all big achievements for the UAE. it has proven a role model in preventive measures to deal with such a crisis."

'Our duty to care for the vulnerable'

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the health sector, emphasised the need to be vigilant in the face of a surge in infection rates in 2021.

She issued a plea to the public to act with caution to safeguard more vulnerable members of the community.

"Community members must be more careful, wear masks, avoid crowded places, and adhere to the guidelines for holding social events and family gatherings," she said during the briefing.

"With the increase in the number of infections and deaths in the past weeks, especially among the elderly and those with chronic diseases, it is our duty to protect them and avoid transmitting the infection to them, and it is a legal and humanitarian duty, because the infection is transmitted to them from younger people who neglect preventive measures."

The UAE reported a record 17 deaths among Covid-19 patients on Monday, surpassing the previous high of 14 set last Friday.

This year the number of new daily infections has generally exceeded 3,000.