Dubai eases COVID restrictions as cases decline

Dubai residents are expecting joyful and stress-free days ahead following the Emirate's declaration on easing COVID restrictions. Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced an updated set of COVID restrictions from Monday, May 17.

The instructions include allowing leisure activities at restaurants, cafes and shopping malls at 70 percent operational capacity while hotels at 100 percent work capacity. The relaxations which are allowed for a month could be extended, authorities said.

However, there is no compromise on wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. A maximum of 100 people is allowed at wedding venues in hotels or halls, given that all attendees and staff be vaccinated. Home weddings must not include more than 30 people and must follow strict precautionary measures.

The Committee also set the maximum number of people allowed to sit on a single table at restaurants at 10, while 6 are permitted each table in cafes or shisha shops. Bars are to operate on a one-month trial basis, starting May 17, with all staff and customers vaccinated.

Community sports, music festivals and award ceremonies are also permitted. The number of spectators for sports events is raised to 70 percent capacity of the gallery, which was 30 percent earlier. A maximum of 1500 people is permitted for indoor competitions and 2500 for outdoor competitions.

The relaxed measures came amidst UAE reporting the lowest number of covid cases in the last five months.

Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has latest reported 1,270 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, 1,250 new recoveries and 4 deaths. As of Tuesday, the total number of cases in the country are 548,681, with total recoveries at 528,769 and the current death toll at 1,637.