UAE Officials Have Released New COVID-19 Rules for Children and the Elderly

In an attempt to reduce the risk and spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority have passed a new rule on those allowed to enter public spaces such as malls and supermarkets.

According to the joint statement released by the previously mentioned health entities, children between the age of three and 12 and those aged 60 and over will no longer be permitted to enter malls, supermarkets, and local shops.

Children will still be allowed to join their parents for walks, for one to two hours per day.

Children, however, are still permitted to go on walks with their parents for one to two hours a day.

"Children may accompany their parents to walk in their neighborhood for 1-2 hours, so long as they are taking the right precautions of adhering to the social distancing measures, limiting the number to three people only and wearing face masks," explained the Dubai Media Office.

The new rule comes after the UAE reduced its COVID-19 restrictions.

Several of the updates included the lifting of the 24-hour lockdown ban in Dubai. Residents can now travel between the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM without applying for a permit. From 10 PM to 6 AM, UAE residents are permitted to leave their houses for medical emergencies only.

Public transport services within the UAE have also resumed operations, and residents can now exercise outside of their house, provided that they maintain a safe social distance and wear face masks.

No more than three household residents can exercise at the same time. Gyms, salons, and cinemas remain closed. Malls and restaurants within shopping malls have resumed operations, with a limit of 30 percent capacity at all times. The revised mall timings are from 12 PM to 10 PM.

Offices and office buildings have also reopened, with 30 percent of the workforce allowed to work in the office space. All employees working in the office, are required to maintain a safe social distance and are to wear face masks at all times.

That said, UAE officials still urge all residents to continue to stay home as much as possible and to only go out if absolutely necessary.