The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) urged owners and managers of economic facilities operating in Abu Dhabi, especially those in the services sector, to comply with set precautionary and preventive measures and instructions that have been put in place to maintain public health and protect the community members from the coronavirus
(COVID-19) infection. This falls in line with the guidelines set by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA).
ADDED has also reminded community members and consumers to adhere to social distancing while shopping, particularly inside shopping malls and sales outlets. The necessity to follow all other precautionary measures such as wearing masks and gloves; frequent sanitization of hands; and refraining from visiting relatives and friends or gatherings has also been emphasized in order to preserve health and safety of the community.
The Department further highlighted the importance of the compliance of all economic facilities’ staff with instructions to wear masks and gloves throughout their work shifts and maintain safe social distancing between each other. In addition, it has also directed owners of these facilities to check the staff’s body temperature regularly without any exemptions; report any suspected cases of COVID-19 infections; and conduct frequent sterilizations of the facility without any kind of complacency.
Furthermore, since a large number of community members visit shopping malls during holidays, especially in summer, social distancing is of utmost importance, the Department explained. Consumers must maintain a distance of two meters between one another while also avoiding crowding inside stores. Meanwhile, outlets must ensure that only specified numbers and percentages of shoppers are allowed inside the store at any given time depending on the available space in each store as indicated in the Department’s previously published circulars.
ADDED further pointed out that the shopping flow during holidays requires taking care and caution by intensifying preventive and control measures and not being lenient with violators. Intensive field visits to markets, malls and sales outlets will be conducted by the Department’s inspection teams to ensure compliance with the implementation of all the required preventive measures and conditions during this period.
