Coronavirus: Dubai closes 53 food outlets in first three months of 2021 over safety breaches

In addition to regular monitoring, inspection teams carry out a number visits based on reports received from consumers

Dubai municipality carried out 13,775 inspection visits to food establishments to ensure they were following safety measures.  Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai Municipality closed 53 food establishments and issued warnings to a further 1,133 for breaching Covid-19 rules during the first quarter of this year.

The municipality carried out 13,775 inspection visits to food establishments to ensure they were following safety measures.

Ninety per cent of food outlets, 12,438, were found to be complying with Covid-19 safety requirements, said Sultan Al Taher, head of the food inspection section at the municipality.

The municipality said the most common breaches detected were failure to adhere to social distancing, failure to wear personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves during food preparation, and not using approved disinfection materials.

It said inspection campaigns would continue throughout Ramadan to ensure that food establishments meet the standards required for transporting, storing, preparing and displaying food products and materials.

Mr Al Taher said in addition toregular monitoring visits, inspection teams carry out checks based on reports received from consumers.

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