U.A.E. eases COVID-19 regulations

UAE authorities announced that they have loosened COVID-19 restrictions as the country moves into recovery from the pandemic.The new policy will take effect on Tuesday, March 1.

NCEMA -National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority- said masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors, but they will remain required in public indoor areas.

It will no longer be necessary to quarantine individuals who have come in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and the isolation protocol for those who are infected will not change. In addition, each emirate has the right to determine how long it will require those who test positive to be quarantined, as well as whether they are required to take a PCR test if they have been in contact with someone who is infected.

Furthermore, the authority reestablished the pre-pandemic intervals between the calling to prayer and the iqaamah, and allowed mosques to sell a limited number of copies of the Qur'an, which must be sanitized after each use.

Mosques and other places of worship will continue to require worshipers to be at least one meter apart.

For travelers who are not vaccinated, a negative PCR test taken no later than 48 hours before departure must be presented for those who aren't fully vaccinated.

Additionally, NCEMA said attendees to local events, exhibitions, or other social or cultural activities must produce a "green pass" or a negative PCR test result taken no more than 96 hours before the event as proof of vaccination.

The authority also announced that all sports activities for all ages would resume in the economic and tourism sectors.

As the pandemic enters its second phase, the NCEMA says the role and responsibilities of the public are just as important as those of the authorities.

According to the authority, all participants must adhere to all preventive measures in order to return to normal daily functions.