Dubai government workers return to offices
Thousands of Dubai government workers were set to return to their offices on Sunday - with many private sector businesses expected to follow suit.
Half of the public sector workforce will be back in the workplace for the next two weeks, after which 100 per cent will return.
Many private sector companies in Dubai have chosen Sunday to ramp up after almost three months of working from home. As of last week, they are allowed to have 50 per cent of the workforce in the office, up from 30 per cent.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, last week said the move was part of "our gradual return to normal life", but with strict precautionary measures such as the wearing of masks and physical distancing.
Nationwide, 30 per cent of federal ministry employees will return to offices on Sunday.
Dr Farida Al Hosani, the government's health spokeswoman, reiterated the need for all residents to take responsibility.
"We are passing through a very critical stage," she said at a televised briefing.
She said the country may see cases rises again, particularly if people do not take individual responsibility.
"We have recently observed a relative moderation in the number of cases in the country, as well as a significant improvement in recoveries, but it is difficult to say at the moment that we are in the process of declining," Dr Al Hosani said.
"Today we are all responsible for recovery, and we are responsible for the decline of the virus, and our commitment will reduce its spread."
On Friday and Saturday, residents flocked to public beaches, despite high temperatures. Many cafes and restaurants opened up and hundreds of hotels ramped up staycation offers.
Diya Khuruj, 38, from Mauritius, was relieved to be back at work.
She had spent most of the past two months on unpaid leave, watching TV, movies and cooking new dishes. She was enjoying a visit to Jumeirah Beach on Saturday and was glad to be back at work and earning again.
“For one month, it was a holiday,” she said, but the second month less so.
"I felt excited to go back to work," she said.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia altered restrictions on gatherings and workplaces to allow larger meet-ups, but instituted heavy fines for rule-breakers.
All areas of Saudi Arabia except Makkah have begun a three-stage lifting of the nationwide stay-at-home order imposed in late March to contain the kingdom’s coronavirus outbreak.
Diya Khuruj, 38, from Mauritius, was relieved to be back at work.
She had spent most of the past two months on unpaid leave, watching TV, movies and cooking new dishes. She was enjoying a visit to Jumeirah Beach on Saturday and was glad to be back at work and earning again.
“For one month, it was a holiday,” she said, but the second month less so.
"I felt excited to go back to work," she said.