Dubai orders suspension of hotels and other entertainment activities as COVID-19 cases increase

Dubai has ordered the suspension of hotels, hospitals and other entertainment activities as the records daily increase in coronavirus UAE.

In a circular released online, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing called for a temporary hold to all entertainment activities from Jan. 21 until further notice due to the increase number of violations following inspections of activities.

In the statement, the health authority also asked government and private hospitals to suspend “all elective therapeutic surgeries that require deep sedation or general anesthesia,”

According to the circular published on Thursday, January 20, the order were given to ensure medical facilities have the capacity to deal with a possible surge in hospitalization, comes into effect from midnight on Thursday until Feb. 19 and could be extended.

There has been a rise in infections as tourists escaped lockdowns across Europe for the country’s sunny weather and beaches during the winter, Bloomberg reports.

The country has reported about 264,000 infections and 762 deaths so far. There has been an extensive vaccination campaign as the country’s economy relies on travel and tourism.