DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The Dubai Tourism Department announced an immediate halt to all live entertainment in hotels and restaurants on Thursday, one day after suspending non-urgent hospital operations to avoid an influx of COVID. -19 patients.
Both decisions were made after Dubai promoted itself for months as the ideal pandemic-friendly vacation spot while coronavirus infections skyrocketed. Now the sheikhdom is showing signs of tension.
Even as cases in the UAE had soared to unprecedented heights, the city-state of Dubai had sought to be a gleaming desert oasis for tourists fleeing heavy lockdowns home. Since reopening in the spring, the commercial center has resisted more restrictions that would plague the economy, largely based on aviation, hospitality and retail.
In addition to the ubiquitous outdoor masks, there is a sense of pre-pandemic normalcy in the city. Bands, dancers and DJs performed in bars and clubs for people with a social distance. The occupancy rate of the hotels rose by more than 70% in December, approaching the holiday level of 2019. During the New Year’s weekend alone, the city’s airport welcomed more than 70,000 travelers.
Soon, countries like the UK and Israel that had sent throngs to Dubai during the winter holidays closed their itineraries, raising the alarm about the spike in infections in the UAE. As late as Tuesday, the sheikdom’s government-run media office firmly urged things to be under control. In a statement, the emirate said it “continues to maintain the highest level of protection against the pandemic and compliance with preventive measures.”
But on Thursday, the Dubai tourism department announced that it had “observed an increase in violations during entertainment activities through field inspection.”
While bars and restaurants would remain open for the time being, the Dubai media office said it would pause the issuance of new entertainment permits to venues with immediate effect to ensure “public health and safety.” The office said it had issued more than 200 violations for “non-compliance” with COVID-19 guidelines and closed 20 branches in recent weeks.
In a circular to business partners, the Dubai tourism department said the ban only applies to live bands in restaurants, bars and beach clubs and that private events and weddings, currently limited to 200 people, can continue normally. The statement said failure to comply with health measures would result in “serious action,” without effect. There was no timetable for the resumption of entertainment activities.
The pandemic is showing no signs of diminishing. The UAE broke its infection record for the 10th consecutive day on Thursday, with 3,529 cases reported. The country does not release location data for infections, making it difficult to determine where in the federation of seven sheikdoms has been hit hardest by the virus.
With its well-staffed health centers and 90% of the population made up of relatively young and healthy expats, the UAE has so far avoided the chaotic scenes of overwhelmed hospitals seen elsewhere. The country has recorded more than 267,000 infections and 766 deaths.
The UAE has rolled out the second fastest coronavirus vaccination campaign in the world, behind Israel alone. The country, which offers the vaccine from Chinese state-backed company Sinopharm to anyone over the age of 16, says it plans to vaccinate more than half of its 9 million residents by the end of March.
On Thursday, the UAE also approved Russia’s Sputnik V emergency vaccine, citing “effectiveness results,” without elaborating. Other countries have been reluctant to approve the Chinese and Russian vaccines because their efficacy announcements lack reliable data and other critical details.
Dubai also offers the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has been approved by Western regulators with an efficacy rate of about 95%. But given the limited supply, it is only available to residents over 60 and those with chronic health conditions.
Dozens of residents hoping to get the Pfizer-BioNtech shot descended on Dubai’s World Trade Center Thursday after a state-linked newspaper published a report saying the center accepted walk-ins regardless of age and other priority criteria . Some seemed ready to wait for hours, even as Emirates health authorities in traditional dress tried to get them to leave.
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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai contributed to this report.