Abu Dhabi is to close one of its drive-through Covid-19 test centres next week.
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, widely known as Seha, announced that the Al Shamkha centre will shut from Monday.
Testing levels across the country are still high ― typically exceeding 200,000 a day ― but have dropped off from a peak period in January when they topped 500,000.
Rules mandating motorists to have green status on Al Hosn app, which requires a negative PCR test to keep active, to enter Abu Dhabi were lifted at the end of February.
Global travel restrictions have also eased, meaning travellers to many destinations no longer need to present a negative result before flying.
But the green pass system access to public places in Abu Dhabi remains in place.
Seha said people can still take PCR tests and receive vaccinations at existing drive-through centres in the capital, a list of which is available on the authority's website and app.
The Al Shamka branch is the latest drive-through centre to close its doors in recent months.
In March, Seha announced that the mobile service at City Walk, Dubai, would cease operations.
In January, Seha permanently closed its Covid-19 drive-through testing centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai.
In November, health chiefs shut the first mobile Covid-19 testing centre to be established in the UAE, when the pandemic was sweeping through the world in 2020.
The Zayed Sports City drive-through facility in Abu Dhabi was the first of its kind and started operations in March that year.
Demand for testing is particularly high at Seha centres because PCR tests cost only Dh40 (about $11).
More than 176 million PCR tests have been carried across the country to date.
UAE's Covid-19 screening strategy - in pictures
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A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National -
Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National -
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 -
Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National -
The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National -
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 -
Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
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 -
Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National
