Dr. Taher Al Ameri, the official spokesperson for the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority has confirmed that the country has entered a recovery phase with a steady decline in infections and no Covid-19 deaths registered since 8 March
The UAE Government has updated its Covid-19 travel protocol for unvaccinated citizens in the UAE, which will be enforced from 19 April 2022, according to Dr. Taher Al Ameri, the official spokesperson for the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).
In January 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), in coordination with the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), had placed a travel ban on UAE citizens not vaccinated against Covid-19.
During the UAE Government’s latest media briefing on the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Al Ameri revealed that under the new travel protocols all unvaccinated individuals – including citizens and residents – will be permitted to travel if they can present a negative PCR test result taken 48 hours before their departure, and complete the travel application form on the Al Hosn app to change their status to green.
The new and updated protocol revealed by the NCEMA is in line with the UAE’s policy aimed at achieving sustainable recovery and the return to normalcy, the state-run news agency, Wam, reported.
“We urge the public to follow the required precautionary measures for all passengers before and after travel, and the current situation regarding the pandemic at their travel destinations.
“Contact the country’s diplomatic missions abroad in case of suspected infection, and use the Tawajudi service provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” he added.
Dr. Al Ameri also highlighted the updates to the travel protocol for passengers arriving in the UAE, which will make unvaccinated individuals aged under 16 exempt from presenting a negative PCR test result upon arrival, provided that they adhere to all relevant preventive measures.
UAE’s success in combating Covid-19
The UAE has recently seen a significant decline in Covid-19 infections, which is mainly due to the efforts of the health sector and relevant national authorities, Dr. Al Ameri said, noting that the UAE has achieved this success due to inter-agency cooperation and the community.
Since the start of the pandemic, all relevant authorities have been keen to launch proactive readiness plans, which include ensuring the readiness of response teams and the sustainability of the country’s infrastructure, as well as utilizing national resources, strengthening strategic reserves, and establishing an accurate statistical system.
Protecting these achievements depends on the public’s commitment, Dr. Al Ameri said, emphasizing that the cooperation of community members is the best way to overcome the crisis and achieve recovery.
Dr. Al Ameri also pointed out that the UAE will continue to explore the best methods and practices to address the pandemic, and is monitoring all local and international variants of Covid-19 to develop a proactive response plan that will create a new lifestyle based on widespread social awareness.
The UAE tops the list of countries in terms of the rate of fully vaccinated individuals against Covid-19 in countries with a population of over one million, according to an index published by the ”Our World In Data” website, Dr Al Ameri said.
Dr. Al Ameri stressed that the latest Covid-19 statistics confirm that the country has entered the recovery phase, and there is a steady decline in infections.
He urged everyone to continue adhering to the precautionary measures, including wearing face masks indoors, practicing social distancing, sanitizing hands, and avoiding crowded areas.
Source: Arabian Business
