Coronavirus (Covid -19) has now been included under UAE’s law on communicable diseases, the UAE Ministry of Justice has confirmed. So what does this mean for you?

• Under the law, now all violators of precautionary measures announced by the authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19 will have to face prison and/or fines.

• If you are infected by the disease and need to travel to anywhere else other than a health centre, you need the approval of the Ministry or health agency. If you do so without permission, then you can face prison and/or have to pay a fine of between Dhs 10,000 – Dhs5,000.

• If you are aware of your infection and transmit the disease, you are looking at minimum imprisonment of five years and/or a fine of between Dh50,000-Dh100,000 dirhams, with repeat offenders attracting lengthier sentences.

• Under the law, anyone who fails to report an infection or a COVID-19 related death will also face prosecution, according to Gulf News. This includes doctors, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and medical practitioners.
  
• As per the rules, apart from the person infected, his colleagues or the captain or owner of mode of transportation the infected person has travelled in must report the same to the Ministry of Health within 24 hours.