Video: Here’s what Dubai’s busiest areas look like following stay-at-home order

Several residents in the UAE are now staying at home following the UAE’s announcement on Monday urging people not to step out except for essential purposes as the country seeks to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In a joint statement, the Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said the decision was aimed at limiting social contact and ensuring people avoided crowded places.

“The public are urged to use their own family cars with a maximum of three individuals per vehicle. They are also advised not to visit public places and maintain social distancing protocols during family gatherings as part of the precautionary measures taken to ensure public health and safety,” the statement said.

The two authorities also urged the public not to visit hospitals except for critical or emergency cases and to use face masks.

The country has also decided to close all malls in the country, while restaurants will also be only allowed to make deliveries.

Gulf Business went to some of the busiest areas in Dubai on Monday to see whether people were adhering to the stay-at-home message from the government.

While some of the areas – such as the Kite Beach – were empty since all beaches are closed, bustling marketplaces in Bur Dubai and Deira were relatively quieter.

On Monday, the UAE reported 45 new cases of the Covid-19 infection, increasing the total number of those infected in the country to 198.

The newly diagnosed cases are of varied nationalities, including the UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Iraq, Kuwait, Pakistan, Italy, Peru, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Somalia, Sudan and Egypt, among others.

One of the newly infected individuals arrived into the country and did not comply with quarantine instructions, thus transmitting the infection to 17 other people, an official confirmed.

The total number of those overcoming the Covid-19 infection in the country now tallies 41, including three additional recoveries confirmed on Monday.