Children aged 3 and above must wear face masks – UAE authorities

Children aged three and above must wear face masks in public as a precautionary measure against Covid-19, a senior UAE health official has said.

Those aged under three should wear face shields, Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson of the UAE Health Sector said at an online discussion hosted by the Ministry of Justice, in co-operation with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).

The official also urged parents to avoid taking their children to crowded areas, “especially playgrounds”.

Dr Farida also stressed that licensed medical grade face masks offer the strongest protection against the virus.

“The Covid-19 pandemic crisis has affected citizens and residents and changed lifestyles, habits and the way people interact with each other within the Emirati community,” official news agency WAM quoted her as saying.

“It also made families and the community adopt new healthy lifestyles and encouraged children and the youth to take responsibilities and be independent, and changed several negative lifestyles.”

Dr Farida also stressed the importance of taking the vaccine to reduce infections and protecting everyone, most notably elderly people and children.

Covid-19 vaccines have proved to be 93 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation in Abu Dhabi, while the efficacy of vaccinations at reducing the need of an ICU admission is 95 per cent, a recent study by ADPHC revealed.

The study also found a decrease in the rate of Covid-19 infection after receiving a second vaccine dose. No Covid-19-related deaths have also been recorded in the emirate so far among those who have been fully vaccinated.

Read: Covid-19 vaccine 93% effective at preventing hospitalisation – Abu Dhabi study

The UAE reported 1,803 Covid-19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of infections to 498,957.

The health ministry also confirmed 1,760 recoveries and two deaths on Monday, with total recoveries reaching 481,326, and the death toll standing at 1,556.