Restaurants in Abu Dhabi will begin serving dine-in customers, for the first time after it closed a month ago. The Department of Economic Development announced that food outlets outside shopping centres and malls will open for sit-out customers, but with additional precautions. DED also issued a set of regulations for opening restaurants outside commercial centres:
- Restaurants should not exceed 40% of their total capacity
- Only 4 people allowed per table
- Hand sanitizer to be offered
- Staff and customers must wear facemask and gloves
- Staff who show any symptoms will not be permitted inside
- Tables to be placed at least 2.5 meters apart
- Electronic payment method to be offered
- Frequent sterilization & use of of disinfectants to be implemented
- Serving Shisha is not allowed
- Entry will be permitted only to those between the ages of 12 and 60
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi has extended travel ban by another week, starting 16 June. Abu Dhabi first extended movement restrictions on 2 June. Over the last two weeks, more than 388,000 residents of the emirate were tested for the coronavirus. On Monday, Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Police and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi decided to to extend the ban for another seven days.
Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19
Pandemic, in collaboration with @ADPoliceHQ and @DoHSocial, have announced that the Abu Dhabi movement ban is to be extended by one week, starting tomorrow, Tuesday 16 June. pic.twitter.com/IvPC4fiuyI— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) June 15, 2020
The ban covers movements between Abu Dhabi’s regions as well as in and out of the emirate. The movement restriction applies to all Abu Dhabi residents, including UAE Nationals. However, employees in vital sectors, and chronic disease patients visiting hospitals are exempted from the ban.
In case you need to travel during the curfew hours, a permit system is in place. You can fill out the the permits at, es.adpolice.gov.ae.
What Else?
Meanwhile, did you know Abu Dhabi airport is using robots for sterilization? After Dubai Metro used Orange Robots for cleaning, Abu Dhabi airport follows suit. Abu Dhabi airport now has unmanned vehicles that will sterilize the place. The CodiBot is designed by Marakeb Technologies, and will sterilize the airport starting this month. The robot will clean the staff areas, cargo facilities, and cabin sterilisation with minimized human interaction.
The CodiBot is fully equipped with remote control facility, a real-time video and high-speed 4G data connection. The robot has three main functions:
-Targeting of virus strains on surfaces with controlled bursts of germicidal UV rays
-Screening of individual through thermal infrared monitoring
-Disinfection of areas using liquid cleaning agents
Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports said: “We can reassure passengers and our frontline staff that we are taking all precautionary measures to ensure their safety. We have a clear responsibility to ensure our spaces remain clear of any virus threat. By deploying artificial intelligence, we add another layer of protection and build on our comprehensive response to the Covid-19 outbreak.”