A field tour of "Emirates Today" monitored the failure of commercial shopping centers to adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures to combat the "Corona virus", and to allow children and the elderly to enter the shopping centers, and the customers did not wear barber salons as masks or gloves, and waiting inside the salons, which shows a lack of commitment Some, despite the mandatory instructions for wearing masks and gloves and not entering children under 12 years of age, and those over 60 years of age.
Security guards in the centers said that they do not have any legal authority to prevent customers from entering and their role is limited to guarding and measuring temperature, while the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al Khaimah confirmed that the police will be informed about violators of the instructions.
The Director General of the Department of Economic Development in Ras Al-Khaimah, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Shayeb Al-Naqbi, commented that the department issued a circular to prevent the entry of elderly people over 60 years old and children under 12 years old and those with chronic diseases to commercial centers, because there are health risks to them, and will be contacted with the departments of the commercial centers to inform them of communication With the police, and report any person who violates the precautionary procedures and instructions as a violation that entails penalties in accordance with the regulations issued by the Attorney General in the country.
He explained that the security guard is an employee who executes the instructions and everyone must comply with the instructions, pointing out that the department implements control campaigns on women's and men's beauty salons to ensure their commitment to preventive precautions against wearing gags and gloves.
For his part, a security guard at a commercial center, who preferred not to be named, said that he does not have the authority to prevent the elderly, people of determination and children under 12 years from entering the commercial centers, stressing that some ignore the instructions and insist on entering with his family, while some are committed to not entering and waiting His family is in the vehicle until shopping is complete.
He added that despite the presence of posters of the requirements that must be implemented at the doors of shopping centers, and that he accompanied his colleagues to educate shoppers, the elderly, pregnant women, children and people of determination not to enter for the sake of their safety, but some insist on non-commitment and do not care about the preventive and health requirements.
He pointed out that awareness-raising and education campaigns should be intensified in order for everyone to abide by the decisions and implement the instructions of the security guards in shopping centers, because they are responsible for implementing the decisions and maintaining the safety and health of shoppers and workers in the centers.
Another security guard stated that he does not have the authority to compel older shoppers to show their identity to confirm their age, especially since some of them refuse to reveal their age and claim to be less than 60 years old, although their appearance indicates that they are over 60 years old and among groups that are not allowed to enter shopping centers.
He pointed out that some respond to the instructions of the security guards and wait in front of the mall until the end of its shopping facilities, while others refuse to comply and insist on entering the center, pointing out that if a police station is available at the entrance to the mall, everyone will adhere to the precautionary measures because there is an authority that applies the law in the place.
The manager of a barber shop in Ajman, who preferred not to be named, said that he could not prevent customers from entering the salon without wearing masks and gloves, and that his role is limited to putting up a poster with the protective requirements imposed by the competent authorities to enter the beauty salons.
He pointed out that some non-conforming clients enter the salon and sit waiting for their turn despite being educated by the salon workers to wear masks and gloves so that they are not subject to legal accountability, because if the inspectors enter, they will be violated for not wearing the masks and gloves, as they endanger their safety and the safety of others.
He stated that they have permanently refused shaving for any child or elderly person in order not to be subject to a violation.
The official of a women's beauty salon said that, despite receiving pre-booked clients and warning against not receiving children, patients and the elderly, some customers come with children without reservation and insist on waiting.
She confirmed that she refused to receive customers of determination and the elderly, in compliance with the precautionary measures, and in the interest of safety and public health, noting that the salon is committed to instructions and decisions in order to maintain the safety of everyone.
The shoppers, Adnan Akawi, Raed Abdul-Star, and Dhiaa Alawi said that they had to compose their children under 12 years old to trade centers to buy clothes for them after increasing their weight, noting that they entered the center despite the security guards.
Meanwhile, Issa Roushdy, Rami Hajji, and Ghassan Al-Adil acknowledged that they had to take their elderly parents to the barbershop in order to shave the head and beard, explaining that they had come under psychological pressure as a result of their parents pressing them and refusing to cut their hair at home.
Conditions and fines
The Penal Code provides for violators of quarantine and prevention decisions that the fine for calling to gather is 10 thousand dirhams, and the participant in the invitation is 5,000 dirhams, and the fine for not wearing masks in public places or public transportation reaches 3,000 dirhams.
And the National Authority for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management said, "There are requirements that have been circulated to the commercial centers, which are banning entry to the elderly over 60 and children under 12."
She warned the visitors of the centers that the shopping period should not exceed two hours, to reduce the crowding of shoppers, and to maintain the remaining 30% of the capacity of shoppers inside the shopping centers.
The Department of Economic Affairs of Ras Al-Khaimah demanded that the shopping centers administration to inform the police of non-compliance.