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Systems put in place at a supermarket in Dubai to slow the spread of the coronavirus. AFP
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A man wearing a facemask in Dubai in April 2020, shortly after the first outbreak. Pawan Singh / The National
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Staff from the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conduct searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, at the start of the outbreak on January 11, 2020. AFP
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A security guard sits outside the closed Huanan market in Wuhan, Hubei province. Getty Images
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A notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita Airport, Japan, in January 2020. EPA
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An empty Times Square after a coronavirus lockdown was ordered in New York City, March 18, 2020. Reuters
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A nurse wearing PPE comforts another as they change shifts on March 13, 2020 at Cremona Hospital, north-eastern Italy. AFP
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Sanitation workers from Tadweer on the first day of the UAE cleaning campaign in March 2020. Victor Besa / The National
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The pedestrian crossing on Hamdan and Fatima Bint Mubarak Street is sprayed on March 27, 2020. Victor Besa / The National
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A commuter enters the sterilisation area at the entrance of the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Terminal in March 2020. Victor Besa / The National
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Travellers returning to Kuwait from Egypt, Syria and Lebanon arrive to be re-tested at a containment and screening zone in Kuwait City on March 16, 2020. AFP
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Al Wadha Mall in Abu Dhabi reopens in May 2020 with measures in place to protect shoppers. Victor Besa / The National
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Safety reminders at Dubai International Airport after the resumption of scheduled operations by Emirates on May 22, 2020. AFP
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A delivery driver wearing a face mask in downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
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Passengers of an Emirates flight prepare to board a plan to Sydney at Dubai International Airport. AFP
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Systems put in place at a supermarket in Dubai to slow the spread of the coronavirus. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HBI5JAKNE5FVZLGVQ4GCW2BNXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6068e546687888183ae812c0ab4db93002eb18ebe5ff74049a9db4aa1c5d1ea6&width=400&height=225)
A man wearing a facemask in Dubai in April 2020, shortly after the first outbreak. Pawan Singh / The National
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Staff from the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conduct searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, at the start of the outbreak on January 11, 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3JHVV5OCFES6RNGOSXXWUHTWXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=99bf7e55d5fdad14530f25f393d3b7933b293583d38c6c984b92dac4bf51deb4&width=400&height=225)
A security guard sits outside the closed Huanan market in Wuhan, Hubei province. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KERYZAFIJ5THYMUKFFRIOJ2RAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f52adb2321e733fdc698032c62c96d637efd248283b83ba9c52f8f18919612c&width=400&height=225)
A notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita Airport, Japan, in January 2020. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CVSMLF4BINPQFHEOP7RWUAOFMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d354d5e2993d2004097132d75973f906d9abbc6cec4c7d22f18870247ce191c&width=400&height=225)
An empty Times Square after a coronavirus lockdown was ordered in New York City, March 18, 2020. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EF2NTI2HPHCIDR24ZDFCD3XUCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de92cad249f74967ed2cc1a620820a0dce8bc352e58cf2c4aa8193a0f69183a2&width=400&height=225)
A nurse wearing PPE comforts another as they change shifts on March 13, 2020 at Cremona Hospital, north-eastern Italy. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7WC4UICRLHMVWXIAORET7ZZVAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1f7a2daa8cb3b7deba8fc7a9e60878530295a73c350240114a25f63da8fdfc1b&width=400&height=225)
Sanitation workers from Tadweer on the first day of the UAE cleaning campaign in March 2020. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UWS3ALG5UJUBT7FKJNWYAUTNYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b302825e3da94cb5cb086e47a19c9980c182bbf33f70be271899b3bef94aa7bb&width=400&height=225)
The pedestrian crossing on Hamdan and Fatima Bint Mubarak Street is sprayed on March 27, 2020. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OPSAXJ23MPRLQSSVGPD6A2FTNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bef0eec69e734d5f129bfec011cdeabdd0d7fed95e93c185ab5fb18b66758a8&width=400&height=225)
A commuter enters the sterilisation area at the entrance of the Abu Dhabi Central Bus Terminal in March 2020. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C6LKQOU3RMUCX42Z3UK4C6MRVY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c5adcd10e84aee315138d97e38694736d482ef00e04b7781c5d3e376fa582a2&width=400&height=225)
Travellers returning to Kuwait from Egypt, Syria and Lebanon arrive to be re-tested at a containment and screening zone in Kuwait City on March 16, 2020. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2HPN7I2NUK45XGG3NAR6SGNBZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7547eaa3a44102727ed1b240bafe466afc8ef2febe8ae53b885b620656150f5d&width=400&height=225)
Al Wadha Mall in Abu Dhabi reopens in May 2020 with measures in place to protect shoppers. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AVM26MCXFN6ZNCW6KE5BBWCLMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c49f91ddcf57c85704272aa1fba504efa0c4e6064a2bce0b83c6acca2ae7f270&width=400&height=225)
Safety reminders at Dubai International Airport after the resumption of scheduled operations by Emirates on May 22, 2020. AFP
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A delivery driver wearing a face mask in downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
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Passengers of an Emirates flight prepare to board a plan to Sydney at Dubai International Airport. AFP
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Systems put in place at a supermarket in Dubai to slow the spread of the coronavirus. AFP
Three years on, what is the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic?
While thousands are still dying each week, the impact of the coronavirus is much reduced
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
09 January, 2023
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