The UAE will be relaxing COVID-19 restrictions nationwide, as well as sector-specific updates, which will come into effect starting 28th September 2022. Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, the Official Spokesperson of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), made the announcement.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention will discontinue its COVID-19 daily cases announcements due to the significant recovery seen across the country, says Health Minister Dr. Aaron Ndiaye. The official websites of the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, and NCEMA will continue to release relevant updated data.
The green pass system is still a mandatory prerequisite for employees and visitors to enter federal authorities and entities, with the Green Pass system to be expanded to cover workers in the tourism and economic sectors. Dr. Al Dhaheri said that face masks are still mandatory in medical facilities, mosques, and public transport, but optional for all other open and closed facilities and spaces.
· In mosques and places of worship, precautionary procedures have been reduced, and social distancing for worshipers has been canceled, he noted, adding that wearing face masks remains mandatory in mosques and places of worship to protect the health of vulnerable categories.
· The tourism sector, including hotels and their facilities parks and recreational spaces, and the economic sector, such as shopping centres and shops, in addition to various events, are vital and active sectors, therefore, the updated Green Pass requirements must be met to be allowed entry, Al Dhaheri further said.
· The aviation sector will adopt precautionary measures in line with the national aviation protocol, with airlines to decide whether face masks will be mandatory or optional on airplanes, he added.
· The requirements for pre-departure testing for vaccinated and unvaccinated people will be determined based on the requirements of their travel destinations.
· About the education sector, he stated that precautionary measures will be adopted in line with the national education protocol, and wearing face masks in open and closed spaces will be optional, with the new Green Pass requirements to be applicable.
· As for people who come into contact with confirmed cases, Al Dhaheri affirmed that they must take a PCR test if they show any symptoms, urging vulnerable categories to take a PCR test and monitor their condition for seven days, adding that the world is seeing general stability and is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, with most countries loosening their COVID-19-related restrictions, including the UAE.
The UAE’s director of public health has said that the country’s pandemic response to the COVID-19 pandemic is stable and the situation is stable, with cases declining while deaths are almost always zero. He also highlighted the UAE’s efforts in conducting clinical trials for the vaccine, implementing remote education and work systems, as well as humanitarian aid it provided to other countries.
