Several COVID Testing And Vaccination Centers Permanently Closed In UAE

An additional number of COVID-19 testing and vaccination centers permanently closed down in the UAE on Thursday.

The closure came weeks after health authorities announced the easing of COVID-19 precautionary measures as cases continued to drop across the country, The National reported.

Starting Dec. 1, drive-through testing centers of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) in Al Wathba and Al Bahia in Abu Dhabi will no longer operate. Prior to this, the healthcare entity shut down its drive-through services in Al Khawaneej, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Seha also announced the closure of its vaccination centers in Al Ain, Al Hili, Al Aamerah, and Al Khabsi with effect from Thursday.

Meanwhile, Seha drive-through facilities in Rabdan and Manhal in Abu Dhabi, as well as in Al Sarouj and Asharej in Al Ain, will continue to operate.

The UAE lifted most COVID-19 restrictions across the country on Nov. 7 after witnessing a steady decline in infection rates. Additionally, residents are no longer required to have a green status on the Al Hosn app to enter public places in Abu Dhabi.

Previously, residents without a green status, which demonstrates their vaccination status and recent negative PCR test result, were denied entry into a majority of public places in Abu Dhabi. While a green status on Al Hosn is no longer a requirement to enter UAE establishments, it may still be used as proof of vaccination during travel inside the country or abroad.

The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) also announced wearing masks would be optional in all open and closed facilities across the UAE. However, the mask mandate still stands for people in health facilities.

The easing of COVID-19 measures also includes the optional use of personal mats when praying in mosques and other religious facilities. At the same time, vaccination certificates are no longer required while attending sporting events and activities, unless the organizing body requires them.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the UAE has recorded 1,044,343 COVID-19 infections, 1,023,936 recoveries, and 2,348 deaths. The number of daily infections has gone down from 1,000 in August to less than 150 in recent weeks.