DUBAI — Authorities here have issued fines and ordered several businesses to close for not complying with coronavirus preventative measures, UAE state media WAM reported on Friday.

The announcement comes after the UAE recorded its highest daily case count in four months and as daily case counts have been generally higher than in previous months.

Health authorities urged citizens and residents to follow precautionary measures, like social distancing, at a press conference at the weekend.

The Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection (CCCP) Sector in Dubai Economy ordered a restaurant to close and fined a fitness center for not adhering to social distancing measures.

Eighty-eight percent of the coronavirus cases reported in the country in the past two weeks resulted from individuals failing to adhere to social distancing protocols and preventative measures, the UAE government spokesperson said at the press conference.

“The daily inspection visits by CCCP cover all areas in Dubai, including open markets and commercial centers. Inspections conducted yesterday showed that 578 stores fully complied with the precautionary measures and guidelines.”

The inspections aim to spread awareness and remind people that “Everyone is responsible” for protecting the community, WAM reported. — Agencies