More coronavirus laser screening centres have been set up near the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border to meet demand from the thousands of people crossing daily.
A negative Covid-19 test result is required to enter Abu Dhabi as part of efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Abu Dhabi's Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee set up drive-through DPI testing stations near Ghantoot and opened more lanes as part of efforts to enhance the flow of traffic into the emirate.
"Eighteen new 24-hour DPI testing stations have been opened on both sides of Al Faya Road, in Seih Sheib area, to ease entry into Abu Dhabi", Abu Dhabi's government media office said late on Saturday.
The screening stations add to the network of centres in Abu Dhabi and other emirates "to meet the screening needs of all visitors entering the emirate within 72 hours from receiving a negative test result", it said.
The results of a Diffractive Phase Interferometry test, or DPI, which detects viral presence in the blood, including Covid-19, are received in minutes and costs just Dh50. The results of nasal swab PCR tests take up to 24 hours.
More than 20 million tests have been carried out so far during the pandemic in the UAE as part of efforts to drive down cases.
Abu Dhabi is due to resume most economic activities in the next few weeks and the latest measures are part of ensuring it can do so safely, the government said.
_________________________________________
Coronavirus around the world gallery
-
Dr Diana Hristova, left and Dr Yanislav Mitkov pose for a portrait in the intensive care unit of Aleksandrovska Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria. Getty Images -
A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at the General Hospital in Mexico City, Mexico. Reuters -
Dr Joseph Varon, right, and Jeffrey Ndove, left, perform a procedure for hypothermia treatment on a patient in the Covid-19 intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Centre in Houston, Texas. AFP -
A woman holds a candle during an outdoor Christmas Eve Service of Lights at the Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, Florida. AP Photo -
A woman gets her temperature checked before entering Immanuel Church in Jakarta, Indonesia. Getty Images -
Victor Nieto, a Catholic deacon of the Capillas de la Fe funeral home, conducts a farewell ceremony for Jose Parrado, who died from Covid-19, outside Chapinero cemetery in Bogota, Colombia. Reuters -
Travellers wear facemasks at Miami International Airport. AFP -
A shopper rides the escalator next to a giant Christmas tree at a mall in Ottawa, Ontario. The Canadian Press via AP -
A man stands on social distancing signs during an online Christmas service from Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images -
A container carrying part of the first batch of 300,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russia is downloaded from the plane after its arrival at Ministro Pistarini International airport in Ezeiza, Argentina. Getty Images -
A Covid-19 stay at home sign is seen at Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
A view from above shows Deacon Rey Marin, centre right, and Father Christopher Smith arrive in a procession during a Christmas Eve Roman Catholic Mass at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. AFP
