• Abu Dhabi residents are inoculated at the screening and vaccine centre on the Corniche. A nationwide testing and inoculation campaign is credited with driving down cases. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi residents are inoculated at the screening and vaccine centre on the Corniche. A nationwide testing and inoculation campaign is credited with driving down cases. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
  • Staff and nurses from the Abu Dhabi public hospital group Seha urged the public to protect themselves from Covid-19 by signing up to be vaccinated.
    Staff and nurses from the Abu Dhabi public hospital group Seha urged the public to protect themselves from Covid-19 by signing up to be vaccinated.
  • Motorists queue for PCR tests at Seha's testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.
    Motorists queue for PCR tests at Seha's testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.
  • Mass testing and a successful vaccination campaign has helped the UAE to tackle the pandemic.
    Mass testing and a successful vaccination campaign has helped the UAE to tackle the pandemic.
  • Drivers wait at a centre that provides both PCR nasal swab tests and coronavirus vaccine doses.
    Drivers wait at a centre that provides both PCR nasal swab tests and coronavirus vaccine doses.
  • Shenaz Abdul Salam, 13, gives a thumbs up as he waits to receive his first vaccine dose.
    Shenaz Abdul Salam, 13, gives a thumbs up as he waits to receive his first vaccine dose.
  • A staff nurse fills in a vaccination form for a driver at the Corniche centre.
    A staff nurse fills in a vaccination form for a driver at the Corniche centre.
  • Mariam Al Badi, an Emirati nurse working at Seha's drive-through vaccine centre, has urged everyone to get inoculated against Covid-19.
    Mariam Al Badi, an Emirati nurse working at Seha's drive-through vaccine centre, has urged everyone to get inoculated against Covid-19.
  • Ms Al Badi goes through the vaccination process with a driver.
    Ms Al Badi goes through the vaccination process with a driver.
  • Cars queue at the drive-through testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.
    Cars queue at the drive-through testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche.
  • More than 80 per cent of the UAE population has been vaccinated and the government is urging those who have not to sign up.
    More than 80 per cent of the UAE population has been vaccinated and the government is urging those who have not to sign up.
  • An Abu Dhabi resident gives the thumbs up after signing up for vaccination.
    An Abu Dhabi resident gives the thumbs up after signing up for vaccination.
  • Authorities have made the vaccines free for everyone.
    Authorities have made the vaccines free for everyone.
  • A medical worker checks papers as Abu Dhabi residents sign up for the Covid-19 vaccine.
    A medical worker checks papers as Abu Dhabi residents sign up for the Covid-19 vaccine.
  • The drive-through Covid-19 testing and inoculation centre has proved popular with Abu Dhabi residents.
    The drive-through Covid-19 testing and inoculation centre has proved popular with Abu Dhabi residents.

Abu Dhabi to restrict access to many public places for unvaccinated people


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Only vaccinated people will be allowed to enter some public places in Abu Dhabi from August 20.

This includes shopping centres, restaurants, cafes and all other retail outlets, including those not within a shopping centre, "except supermarkets and pharmacies", the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said on Monday.

Also included are gyms, recreational facilities and sporting activities, health clubs, resorts, museums, cultural centres and theme parks, as well as universities, institutes, public and private schools and nurseries in the emirate.

The decision does not apply to those with a vaccination exemption registered on the Al Hosn app, nor to children aged 15 and under.

More than 93 per cent of the "target groups" have been vaccinated in Abu Dhabi, authorities said.

They said the latest move was designed to safeguard public health and curb the spread of Covid-19.

Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi introduced a green pass system through the Al Hosn app to enter most public places.

It requires people to show their testing and vaccination status on the test-and-trace app to enter parks, beaches, malls, hotels and large supermarkets.
The app is also required to access gyms, swimming pools, entertainment centres, restaurants and cafes.

It was temporarily suspended on June 18 as authorities worked on a technical issue.

Authorities have not said when the green pass system will resume. But during a special Covid-19 briefing on Sunday they said the Al Hosn app was working as normal.

“It is currently working efficiently and effectively as usual and all users can get the results of the PCR nasal swab, DPI laser blood test and vaccination status through the application,” the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said.

The same briefing heard that the highly contagious Delta variant accounted for a third of cases in the UAE.

It also heard that infections had risen because some people had not been vaccinated or were not following rules.

Officials urged everyone to take the vaccine and continue to wear masks and adhere to social-distancing guidelines.

Mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives have been central to the UAE's efforts to curb the pandemic.

The country recorded little more than 2,000 cases on Monday, down from close to 4,000 in January.

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Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson

Rating: 4/5

RESULTS

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 630bhp

Torque: 900Nm

Price: Dh810,000

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Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')

Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)