UAE residents can now travel freely across the country throughout the day, as national sterilisation project comes to an end

The UAE has completed its national sterilisation programme and lifted all movement restrictions effective Wednesday. This means residents can travel freely across the country any time of the day, Khaleej Times has reported.

Earlier, they were required to stay home during the national sterilisation programme timings between 11 pm and 6 am in Dubai and 10 pm and 6 am in all other emirates.

“Today we announce the completion of the National Disinfection Programme, which covered the country’s public facilities and transportation. However, the public buildings will continue to be regularly disinfected,” said Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).

Addressing a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Al Dhaheri said: “The programme helped us sterilise public facilities like public transportation means, including the Dubai Metro. We will continue to sterilise all public facilities.”

The UAE first declared a mandatory three-day curfew from March 26 to 29 to conduct a general sterilisation programme to curb the spread of coronavirus. It was effective from 8 pm to 6 am and residents were not allowed to step out of their homes except for emergencies.

On March 31, a country-wide movement restriction was implemented until April 5 as part of the national sterilisation programme to disinfect bustling streets and public facilities. The curfew on movement continued between 8 pm and 6am.

Dubai closed down entrances and exit to Al Ras in Deira for the mass testing and disinfection programme. A nation-wide drive to disinfect the metro, buses, taxis and airports was also launched while shopping malls and restaurants remained closed.