Abu Dhabi entry rules eased: How a year of border Covid testing helped fight the virus

Abu Dhabi - The decision to lift restrictions came after daily infections dropped drastically in the emirate

Checkpoints on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border were removed after midnight on Sunday, as authorities cancelled the PCR testing requirement for those travelling to the UAE Capital.

In a video posted by Abu Dhabi TV, a convoy of police patrols with their sirens flashing can be seen leading civilian vehicles across the border:

The Abu Dhabi Police posted a heartfelt message of gratitude to residents for their cooperation in implementing the rule that has been in place for more than a year. Till yesterday, residents and tourists needed to have a negative Covid test result to cross into the Capital.

The police, however, cautioned residents to continue adhering to all Covid safety measures and to “be responsible”.

Covid safety first

The decision to lift the Covid testing requirement came after daily coronavirus infections dropped drastically in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi had implemented the border testing rule in July 2020. Since then, thousands of residents and tourists took the mandatory tests to travel to the Capital.

Indian expatriate Arijit Nandi, who travels to Abu Dhabi for work every day, spoke about the frequency with which he had to undergo testing:

Though officials have not revealed the positivity rate of such tests, doctors and experts believe that they helped check the infection spread.

“It helped contain the spread of the virus directly as only negative report carriers were allowed to cross the border,” said Dr Santosh Sharma, medical director and consultant neurosurgeon, NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai.

“The gradual removal of the curbs — where the validity of the negative results was first valid for 48 hours and then 72 hours — was also done in a very scientific manner. Authorities had the freedom to place or remove curbs as per the daily infections.”

Here is a message from the frontliner, as he looks back over the past year:

The rule also helped identify asymptomatic cases, another doctor said.

“Given that an estimated 40 per cent of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection have no symptoms but can still transmit the virus, testing all the people who crossed the borders was the most effective strategy to prevent asymptomatic carriers from spreading the virus,” said Dr Ramesh Bhaskaran, internal medicine (specialist), Aster Hospital, Qusais.

He said with daily infections down, and most residents and travellers fully vaccinated, the chances of severe cases are low.

“Now, the onus lies on the individual to… avoid travel in case of any symptoms in the better interest of the community,” he said.

Green pass to a Covid-free future

sahim@khaleejtimes.com