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New Covid-19 safety rules for Abu Dhabi that will limit entry to a number of public places to vaccinated people will come into effect on Friday.
Under the measures, which apply to citizens, residents and tourists, proof of vaccination will be required to visit a wide variety of venues, including malls, restaurants and cafes.
The capital's Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said the protocols were being introduced to contain the spread of the virus as well as new strains, such as the highly contagious Delta variant.
So what public places are now vaccinated-only and how do you demonstrate you have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine?
The National examines the new regulations in the emirate.
Which public places must you be vaccinated to enter?
From Friday, anyone wishing to enter the following venues must be inoculated against Covid-19.
> Shopping centres, restaurants, cafes, and all other retail outlets, including those not within a shopping centre. Supermarkets and pharmacies, however, are exempt from this ruling
> Gyms, recreational and sporting facilities and health clubs
> Resorts, museums, cultural centres and theme parks
> Universities, institutes, public and private schools and children’s nurseries
What are the entry rules?
Al Hosn, the UAE's testing and vaccination app, will act as a health pass to secure entry to the public places listed above.
Anyone who has a vaccinated confirmation on the app – which is displayed after two doses – and has green status will be permitted to access those facilities.
Green status is achieved through a negative PCR test and remains valid for 30 days.
Entry is also allowed for those exempted from vaccination with green status on Al Hosn, which appears after a negative PCR test result and remains for seven days.
Children under 16, whose status will appear as green on Al Hosn app without the requirement of a test, will also be allowed entry.
Unvaccinated people and those with grey status on Al Hosn app, which reflects an expired PCR test, are prohibited from entering these public places.
Anyone with a new residency permit will have a grace period of 60 days to be vaccinated.
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A man is vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital -
A man is vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital -
People queue to get vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital -
People register to get vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital -
People register to get vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital -
People register to get vaccinated at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen International Hospital
September 20 deadline for booster shot
To maintain vaccinated status on the app, a third booster dose must be taken six months after the second dose has been administered.
The ruling applies only to those who received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine.
Residents who have taken the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, or any of the other approved vaccines, do not require a third dose at this stage.
A grace period of 30 days is given to all those who had their second dose more than six months ago, before their status will turn grey on September 20.
After the third dose, a PCR test must be taken at least every 30 days to maintain green status on Al Hosn.
Booster shots can be taken without prior appointment at any Seha vaccination centre.
Participants in vaccine trials are exempt from needing a booster dose.
How can tourists prove vaccination status?
Abu Dhabi authorities have announced how visitors to the capital who were vaccinated against Covid-19 abroad can gain entry to public places.
The Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has set out a step-by-step guide to ensure a person's inoculation status is added to Al Hosn.
International travellers can make sure they can gain entry to the list of venues by carrying out the following steps:
1. Before departure, visitors need to register in the “register arrivals” section of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship app.
2. Complete the register arrivals form and upload an international vaccination certificate. Visitors will receive a text message that includes a link to download Al Hosn app.
3. On arrival in Abu Dhabi, visitors will receive a unified identification number (UID) either at the airport or through the ICA app or website.
4. Visitors will need to download and register on Al Hosn app, using the UID and phone number used for ICA registration or when taking a PCR test in the UAE.
