DUBAI: Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management announced on Tuesday that an extensive COVID-19 vaccination program will begin on Wednesday. It will use the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and be provided free of charge.
It came as the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced that emergency registration of the vaccine has been approved. The decision was made following a request by Pfizer for approval so that health authorities can begin to import the vaccine. The Emirates is one of the first countries to register and approve it.
Meanwhile 1,226 new confirmed coronavirus cases were recorded on Monday, along with three additional deaths as a result of the disease. MOHAP said the total number of cases in the country now stands at 195,878, and the death toll is 642. A further 1,611 people recovered during the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 171,451.
During daily inspections, Dubai Economy issued a warning to one establishment for failing to adhere to COVID-19 precautions. Inspectors found 344 other businesses to be compliant.
The UAE government urged the public to avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumors about the new strain of the coronavirus, and to continue to take preventive measures.
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism said the emirate will begin to welcome back international tourists from Dec. 24, thanks to the “successes achieved by implementing the precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining a low rate of confirmed cases.”
Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved procedures for all UAE citizens and residents entering the emirate, including returning residents, from 24 December 2020. pic.twitter.com/9vyu22446S
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) December 22, 2020
In a message posted on Twitter, the authority said all visitors will have to take a PCR test on the sixth day of their stay in the emirate if they are staying for six consecutive days or more, and on the 12th day if they are staying for 12 consecutive days or more.
On Monday, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said all pupils of age 12 and above will be required to take a PCR test if they intend to attend school in person during the coming term, which begins on Jan. 3.
“The PCR tests will be provided free of charge on a specific date for each school from Dec. 21 to 31 at designated health-screening centers,” the authority said in a message on its website.
Sharjah Police said it has deployed more of its “K9” sniffer dogs in an effort to find COVID-19 cases in the emirate. The dogs, whose accuracy in detecting cases of infection is estimated at 92 percent, are also on duty at Sharjah International Airport, where they can also sniff out contraband substances.
Elsewhere, Kuwait recorded 298 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the country to 148,507. The death toll there has reached 923 after one more patient died.
تعلن #وزارة_الصحة عن تأكيد إصابة 298 حالة، وتسجيل 214 حالة شفاء، و حالة وفاة واحدة جديدة بـ #فيروس_كورونا_المستجدّ COVID-19 ، ليصبح إجمالي عدد الحالات 148,507 حالة pic.twitter.com/9DDBZ10TiV
— وزارة الصحة – الكويت (@KUWAIT_MOH) December 22, 2020
Oman’s Health Ministry confirmed 212 new cases and one additional death, bringing the totals in the country to 128,143 and 1,490 respectively.
#Statement No. 250
December 22, 2020#عمان_تواجه_كورونا pic.twitter.com/lIPWWv2AEf— وزارة الصحة – عُمان (@OmaniMOH) December 22, 2020
In Bahrain, zero deaths was reported, keeping the death toll to 350, while 184 new infected cases were confirmed.
Out of 9576 COVID-19 tests carried out on 22 December 2020, 184 new cases have been detected among 103 expatriate workers, 71 new cases are contacts of active cases, and 10 are travel related. There were 124 recoveries from #COVID19, increasing total recoveries to 88666 pic.twitter.com/kkb7DEVJqw
— وزارة الصحة | مملكة البحرين (@MOH_Bahrain) December 22, 2020
Saudi Arabia confirms 8 COVID-19 deaths, 181 new casesUAE records 1,077 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths