Cases in which face masks need not be used

Rania Al Ghazzawi, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre issued a guideline to determine the cases in which the face mask is allowed to be removed temporarily, and the cases excluded or exempted from its use.

According to the centre, children under two, People of Determination with severe intellectual and movement disabilities (through a medical report) and those with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, failure and pulmonary fibrosis (through a medical report) are exempted from wearing masks.

The centre pointed out that it is allowed to raise the face mask for a limited time when driving the car alone or in the presence of a member of the same family who live in the same house, while eating or drinking in indoor and outdoor places (restaurants while maintaining a physical distance of no less than two metres), while practising sports alone where the mask can be removed during running, jogging, walking, or during swimming and cycling (taking into account the physical spacing). Also the mask can be removed when working alone in an office and there are no people nearby and when undergoing treatment that requires removing the mask to examine the eyes, teeth and throat.

COVID-19 MEASURES TIGHTENED: The security inspection teams in charge of following up the implementation of the precautionary measures in the Emirate of Sharjah issued 13 violations for individuals not adhering to the measures to combat COVID-19. This came as part of the team’s extensive campaign carried out within the framework of the intensive preventive efforts undertaken by the competent authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The individuals were arrested for gathering in one of the unlicenced sandy squares in Sharjah to play cricket in addition to their violation of the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the competent authorities to limit the spread of the virus and protect members of society from it.

The Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team in the Emirate of Sharjah stated that the security inspection teams continue their inspection rounds intensively to monitor the commitment of individuals to precautionary measures, and to take legal measures against violators of the requirements, standards and procedures stipulated by the competent authorities.

The local team stressed the need to adhere to the precautionary measures, and to report any violation by commercial establishments or individuals, through the channels designated for this matter, namely the call centre 901, or the “Haris” service via the Sharjah Police application, or by email: covid19@shjpolice.gov.ae