UAE Residents urged to scrap travel plans
Dubai residents have been urged to avoid travelling in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health and Community Protection has called on citizens and residents to stay put and said that if travel is a must, then preventative measures will occur upon return to the UAE.
Medical checks at airports and home quarantine could result, while in cases of infection with the virus, procedures will be applied for sanitary isolation in health facilities.
See more: The Independent
Economy worries as coronavirus looms
Consequences of the coronavirus outbreak may be more serious than estimated for the Gulf and MENA economy, analysts say.
Short-term effects of the outbreak could be present in the region’s hospitality industry, particularly for Dubai which relies heavily on tourism and aviation.
It is expected that banks and financial institutions are least likely to be impacted by the outbreak, researchers say.
“Financial institutions are expected to implement measures such as re-scheduling of loans contracts, granting temporary deferrals on monthly loan payments, and reducing fees and commissions for affected customers,” the central bank of UAE (CBUAE) said in a statement.
See more: Gulf News
Holi festival cancelled but temple remains open in face of coronavirus
The Sindhi Durbar temple in Bur Dubai is remaining open despite Holi festival celebrations being scrapped over coronavirus fears.
Temple management is introducing stringent new hygiene measures to combat any potential spread of the disease, but are keeping their doors open for devotees.
Gopal Kokani, General Manager of the Bur Dubai Temple said: “I have been deluged by hundreds of calls from devotees and would like to reiterate that the temple (which includes the Shiva and Shirdi Sai Baba temples and the Gurudwara) continues to remain open to the public.
“We have made sure to provide hand sanitisers at entry and exit points and are making sure that as soon as people enter, they offer prayers and move out. We are not allowing them to congregate and stand for long, in light of the outbreak.”
See more: Gulf News