Coronavirus: Dubai extends suspension of commercial activities until April 18

Dubai extended the temporary closure of commercial activities in the emirate until April 18 in line with its ongoing efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, according to a Twitter post by the e emirate's Department of Economic Department (DED) on Tuesday.

Vital sectors exempted from the lockdown will continue to operate as usual.

Supermarkets and pharmacies are considered essential services and have stayed open while bars, malls, and other commercial activities have been forced to close. Restaurants are operating delivery-only.

Dubai announced a two-week lockdown starting on April 4 at 8 p.m. to disinfect the emirate and contain the coronavirus. The emirate had previously shut businesses ranging from bars to gyms to limit the spread of coronavirus via human-to-human contact.

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E-commerce supply chain exempt

Dubai has exempted e-commerce facilities such as warehouses from the ruling or the requirements to have move permits under the lockdown, allowing businesses such as Noon and Amazon to continue their services.

“In line with preventative measures to limit the spread of Corona Virus (Covid-19), The Department of Economic Development in Dubai informs that the warehouses & delivery services supporting e-commerce sector, are considered as an activity under the Supply Chain sector which is exempted from obtaining the move permits,” tweeted DED on Tuesday.

City under lockdown

Restrictions on movement in Dubai have increasingly tightened. On Sunday, the emirate said that permits would now be required for any trip outside the house.

As well as drivers, pedestrians and cyclists in Dubai are required to register for a movement permit during the 24-hour restrictions as part of a nationwide sanitation program, according to an update on the newly launched Dubai permit website.

Walking and cycling have been introduced on Monday among the transport options given for people to click on while applying for permission to go out.

Dubai Police urged people to register for a movement permit on the website https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/permits.

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