Coronavirus: Dubai residents clap, cheer for health aid workers from their balconies
Dubai residents cheered and clapped from their balconies on Wednesday night in praise of healthcare workers working around the clock to help prevent the deadly coronavirus from spreading further.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
In The Views and Greens area, videos showed dozens of people standing on their balconies or at their windows cheering and clapping.
The Dubai Media Office also shared a video of residents in Jumeriah Beach Residence applauding health care professionals.
Residents in Dubai’s JBR came out from their balconies to cheer for our first line of defence, our heroes who work tirelessly to combat Covid-19. #ThankYouHeroes pic.twitter.com/U01oVF6ZkX
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 25, 2020
In the Dubai Marina, people also clapped and cheered for several minutes.
The UAE has reported 333 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
Citizens, residents, and tourists have all been encouraged to stay home unless necessary or for work reasons.
A #StayHome message is being displayed on the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Arabic and English, while telecommunication companies incorporated the campaign into their displays on mobile phones.
Precautionary measures
The UAE has put various precautionary measures in place aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
The United Arab Emirates will shut down public transport and restrict movement during the course of the national campaign of sterilization of public facilities from 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 to 6 a.m. Sunday, March 29, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.
All malls, shopping centers, commercial centers, and open markets except for fish, vegetable, and meat markets will be closed for two weeks, the Ministry of Health announced early on Monday.
Restaurants will also only be limited to delivery for the two-week period.
The UAE ordered on March 16 all hotels to close their pubs, bars, and lounges. Gyms, electronic gaming centers, and spring camps will also be closed until the end of the month.
Public beaches, swimming pools, cinemas, theme parks, and tourist attractions are also closed until the end of March.
Read more:
Flattening the coronavirus curve in the Arab world
The coronavirus test you don’t know about, but should: Experts
