Children are allowed to leave home but authorities advise they only do so for 1-2 hours of exercise in their neighbourhood and while accompanied by an adult. Victor Besa / The National
Children are allowed to leave home but authorities advise they only do so for 1-2 hours of exercise in their neighbourhood and while accompanied by an adult. Victor Besa / The National
Children are allowed to leave home but authorities advise they only do so for 1-2 hours of exercise in their neighbourhood and while accompanied by an adult. Victor Besa / The National
Children are allowed to leave home but authorities advise they only do so for 1-2 hours of exercise in their neighbourhood and while accompanied by an adult. Victor Besa / The National

Coronavirus: Are children allowed to leave the house in the UAE?


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE has begun easing restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but many remain.

On Wednesday, authorities announced certain age groups, including children under 12, would be barred from entering all malls, supermarkets and stores.

The decision was taken to protect them from contracting Covid-19, they said.

So where can children go, if they are allowed out at all?

And what precautions should parents take to help protect them if they do take them outside the house?

The National explains.

How dangerous is the coronavirus for children?

Studies have shown that children are less susceptible to developing the most serious complications of  Covid-19, but they are not immune to it.

“People of any age, including children and infants, can be infected by the virus,” said Dr Maurice Khoury, specialist paediatrician at Healthpoint. “However, children have relatively milder clinical manifestations.”

Serious symptoms occasionally develop in children. In recent weeks, there have been reports of children developing a severe inflammatory disease in the UK, Italy and the US, that could be connected to the virus.

In late April, the Paediatric Intensive Care Society spoke of “an apparent rise in the number of children presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care" in London and  other parts of the UK.”

And on Tuesday, authorities in New York City revealed that 15 children had recently been admitted to hospital with the symptoms.

The Kawasaki disease-like condition, which causes a high fever and swollen arteries, was seen in both paediatric patients who had tested positive for coronavirus, and some that had not, as well as others who may have had the disease.

A small number of children have also died after being infected with Covid-19, including some who did not have any underlying conditions, according to British Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Can parents take their children out of the house?

Yes. Children are permitted to leave the home for exercise across the UAE but they must remain within their neighbourhood.

When restrictions were eased in Dubai last month, authorities initially said children were not permitted to exercise outside. However, the government has since clarified the position.

“Children may accompany their parents to walk in their neighbourhood for one to two hours, so long as they are taking the right precautions of adhering to the social distancing measures, limiting the number to three people only and wearing face masks,” authorities said.

It was not advisable to take children under the age of three outside. But if parents could ensure their children were protected and prevented from touching surfaces, they could also go outside.

How can parents protect children if they go outside?

Dr Khoury said children should maintain physical distancing, limit groups to a maximum of three people and be encouraged to wash their hands regularly and well.

"Because the novel coronavirus causing Covid-19 is a highly infectious virus that can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and that can live on surfaces for a long period of time, the primary focus for parents should be touch contact prevention for their children," said Dr Khoury.

“Clean your hands by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.

“If hands are visibly dirty, soap and water should be used."

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 2, 2020. Residents of Abu Dhabi are slowly comming out of their houses on Monday afternoon to enjoy the outdoors and get some sun as the UAE Government loosens on the Coronavirus resstrictions originally set to contain the spread. rus Victor Besa / The National Section: NA For: Standalone / Stock images
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 2, 2020. Residents of Abu Dhabi are slowly comming out of their houses on Monday afternoon to enjoy the outdoors and get some sun as the UAE Government loosens on the Coronavirus resstrictions originally set to contain the spread. rus Victor Besa / The National Section: NA For: Standalone / Stock images

Do all children have to wear masks, even babies?

Yes, everyone leaving home is required to wear a face mask.

The Dubai government said a face mask is “a must” for everybody and pointed out there were types made for children.

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics has shared concerns about the possible risk of strangulation and choking for children below the age of two.

And Dr Khoury said masks can be very difficult for young children and toddlers, who may be unwilling to wear them, to use.

It may also not be easy to find one to fit.

"A poorly fitted mask does not provide any preventive effects and would represent a false sense of security which is why I always recommend parents to avoid taking their children out," said Dr Khoury.

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Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen​​​​​​​
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg​​​​​​​
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg

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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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Second leg

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Game is on BeIN Sports

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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile

Started: 2016

Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel 

Based: Ramallah, Palestine

Sector: Technology, Security

# of staff: 13

Investment: $745,000

Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors

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1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

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Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?

Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.

They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.

“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.

He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.

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Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

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if you go

The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
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The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles. 

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