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Abu Dhabi updates Covid-19 testing requirements to enter emirate

Visitors and residents entering and staying there for six consecutive days or more, must undergo a Covid-19 PCR test on the sixth day of their stay

by Varun Godinho

September 6, 2020

Beginning Saturday, September 5, Abu Dhabi has rolled out updated rules surrounding the mandatory Covid-19 testing requirements to enter the emirate.

Entry will now be permitted within 48 hours of receiving a negative Covid-19 PCR test or within 48 hours of receiving a negative laser DPI test to screen for the virus, without the need for the DPI test to be accompanied by a PCR test.

As per the guidelines issued previously on August 25, all those who received a negative DPI test were permitted entry, provided it is supplemented with a negative PCR test result received within six days prior to entry.

Read: Abu Dhabi tightens Covid-19 testing rules to enter emirate

Besides now eliminating the need for DPI tests to be accompanied with PCR test, the authorities have also issued new directives for those entering the Abu Dhabi for a period of six days or more.

In line with efforts to expand testing for the early detection of COVID-19 infections, Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has updated procedures for entering Abu Dhabi emirate. pic.twitter.com/2zmpn61ZFK

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) September 4, 2020

Accordingly, all visitors and residents entering Abu Dhabi and staying there for six consecutive days and above must undergo a PCR test on the sixth day of their visit.

The new directives were issued by the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for Covid-19 Pandemic, the Department of Health and the Abu Dhabi Police.

A tweet from the Abu Dhabi Media Office announcing the updated rules confirmed that volunteers in the Covid-19 vaccine Phase III trials are exempted from all the mandatory testing measures governing entry into the emirate and are further authorised to use emergency vehicle lanes too.

Read: UAE’s Phase III Covid-19 vaccine trial receives over 31,000 volunteers; registrations closed

Last week, the UAE said that it has successfully vaccinated over 31,000 volunteers as the Covid-19 vaccine trials.

On September 5, the UAE reported 705 additional Covid-19 cases, taking the overall number of cases detected up to 73,471.

Of these, 63,652 have recovered, while, 388 individuals have died as a result of the virus too.

Read: UAE reports 705 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death