Coronavirus: Dubai residents cannot leave home without new permit

Dubai residents must obtain prior permission each time they leave their homes as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management confirmed on Sunday that all journeys outside the home, including to pick up groceries, must be approved in advance.

People must register their planned trips online and outline the reason for their request, say where they will be going and estimate the amount of time they will be away from their address.

On Monday, officials confirmed that pedestrians and people taking a taxi must also apply, in addition to those with their own car.

Those found breaching the stay-home measures will face legal action. The strict measures are the latest part of the emirate's round-the-clock restrictions on travel, which were first increased on Saturday.

Only one member of a household can now leave home for essential shopping in supermarkets and pharmacies.

The only other journeys that are allowed are to hospital or a doctor’s appointment.

People must also wear a mask and gloves at all times once outside, not only when arriving at a shop.

An application must be filled out at https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/home before every journey.

Users will be asked to enter their mobile phone number and will then be sent a verification code to allow them to move to the application page.

They must then give their Emirates ID, their vehicle's license plate number and their address.

It must also include the time the person will leave and return home, and their destination.

Essential workers, which includes medical workers and supermarket staff, among others, will not need to apply to go to work each day.

But they must at all times carry their Emirates ID and a letter from their employer stating who they are.

"The committee stressed that only individuals registering on the website will be able to obtain permission to leave home," the disaster management committee said.

"Those violating the restrictions will face stringent legal action.

"The compliance of all people is vital to the success of measures to combat the virus and ensure the highest levels of protection in the community."

In other developments, any driver who has been flashed by a speed camera in recent days would not have to pay a fine, the Dubai Media Office said.

But any use of a vehicle without a permit as of Sunday would be met with consequences.

On Saturday, the UAE recorded 241 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 1,505.

The death of an Arab national, aged 53, took the death toll to 10, while 17 more people recovered, bringing that total to 125.

Officials said the figure would rise as testing increased and investigators traced people who had been in contact with patients before they showed symptoms.

On Saturday, Dubai closed both lines of the Metro and the tram until further notice.

Source: TheNational.ae