UAE tells people to stay in doors from Thursday during 3-day disinfection program or face prosecution

A man wearing a protective mask stands at a racetrack overlooking Dubai following the UAE's decision to postpone the upcoming Dubai Horse Racing amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)

• The “national disinfection program” will take place over the weekend
• The movement of people and traffic will be restricted during this period

DUBAI: The UAE government has told people to stay in doors over the weekend or face fines and even jail as workers carry out an extensive program to disinfect public facilities and transport including the Dubai Metro to prevent the spread of coronavirus. 
The “national disinfection program” will take place over the weekend and will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and end at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.  
The movement of people and traffic will be restricted during this period, and public transport, including Dubai Metro, will close. 
Citizens and residents are urged to stay at home for the duration of the program, except to buy food and medicine, receive healthcare or to work in vital sectors.
Vital sectors include energy, banking, communications, postal services, shipping, water and food, civil aviation and construction.

People caught flouting the order will face fines and possible jail terms.