The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday that it was lifting all restrictions and precautionary measures related to COVID-19, reported the state news agency WAM.
The decision will be effective as of Monday, announced Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, Official Spokesperson of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA).
Wearing masks will be optional in all open and closed facilities, including places of worship and mosques, except at health facilities and centers for people with disabilities, where it will be mandatory, he said.
For sports events, organizers may request pre-examinations, or vaccination certificates, according to the type or importance of the activity, he went on to say.
“In September, we announced several measures to ease restrictions related to COVID-19. Today, we announce the second phase of the easing of restrictions, after studying the epidemiological situation in the country while monitoring occupancy rates in hospitals and intensive care for COVID-19 cases,” Al Dhaheri said.
“Health facilities concerned with laboratory examination and treatment will be maintained, in addition to the five-day isolation period for those infected with COVID-19,” he added.
“In the interest of health and safety of all, and in support of the efforts of all parties concerned, the community will continue to be educated about the dangers of COVID-19 in particular, and seasonal flu in general,” he emphasized.
“Regarding daily cases, we continue to provide updated data on the official website of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority,” he added.
Al Dhaheri stressed that the procedures are subject to updates and changes according to the latest developments related to the outbreak.
“The UAE government has made unremitting efforts during the last period to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in increased awareness on how to deal with epidemics and diseases,” he added.
“The health sector, in coordination and cooperation with concerned authorities, intensified its efforts to deal with the health crisis, stemming from the belief that society’s health is a top priority of the wise leadership,” he said.
The health sector will continue to monitor the situation and implement active surveillance in all regions of the country, he stated.
