Seha closes its Covid-19 drive-through testing centre in Dubai's Mina Rashid

People have been asked to go to Seha centre in City Walk or Al Khawaneej

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  A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Cars queue up at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. There has been a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for the coronavirus as schools opened for the second term and new weekly testing rules for government employees in Abu Dhabi came into force. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  To enter Abu Dhabi, vaccinated people must show Al Hosn green pass and those who are not must present a negative PCR test taken less than 96 hours prior to crossing the border. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Rapid tests are becoming more popular for those needing a quick turnaround to travel or attend events that require proof of negative status. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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Abu Dhabi's Seha has permanently closed its Covid-19 drive-through testing centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai.

Those who wish to be tested at Seha centres have been asked to go to drive-through sites in City Walk or Al Khawaneej that are open from 10am to 8pm daily.

Demand for testing is particularly high at Seha centres as PCR tests cost only Dh50.

People wishing to be tested can book their appointment on the Seha app.

The full list of Seha testing centres is available on its website.

Demand for PCR tests has risen in the country as strict rules have been enforced to limit the spread of the virus.

On Friday, the UAE reported 3,068 new cases of Covid-19, the highest number of infections in 10 months.

A total of 3,072 cases were reported on March 5, 2021.

Friday's daily caseload took the total number of infections to 799,065.