Middle East Experience

Only 10 immediate family members can attend social events and gatherings in the United Arab Emirates, health authorities said on Friday as they outlined the latest coronavirus safety protocols.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.In a post on Twitter, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said that weddings and other family occasions must be limited to only 10 “first degree attendees of both families.”Guests are also required to conduct a COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to the event as a precautionary measure.NCEMA added that buffets are not permitted and recommended using disposable utensils and cups in order to prevent spreading or contracting the virus.Funerals, prayers limited to 10The same rules also apply to funerals and related services including prayers and burials.The number of people responsible for digging a grave has been reduced to only two and pallbearers are limited to between four and eight, according to the latest rules. Authorities are also requiring all tools be disinfected before and after a burial.NCEMA urged frequent handwashing and the use of disinfectants that contain at least 60 to 80 percent alcohol.Meanwhile, workers in cemeteries are required to wear a face mask at all times and must disclose any respiratory symptoms, including coughing, and avoid attending the funeral.Authorities monitoring, imposing feesThe relevant authorities will be monitoring events to ensure all rules are followed by attendees and venues, according to NCEMA. Anyone caught violating the guidelines will be subject to fines.Organizers are responsible for ensuring there is a distance of at least two meters between individuals, it said. An isolation room must be prepared in case there is a suspected COVID-19 cases in attendance.Organizers are also expected to advise people with chronic pre-existing conditions as well as the elderly to not attend events as a precautionary measure against spreading the virus.The UAE has recently seen a spike in daily new COVID-19 cases, having recorded its highest daily toll since the start of the pandemic on Saturday last week.Read more:Guests in Abu Dhabi 5-star hotel spas must wear masksDubai fines five shops for lack of face masks, warns 10 othersAbu Dhabi to mark houses where arrivals are in quarantine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE limits family gatherings, weddings, funerals to 10 people

The United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman al-Owais has taken the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine dose days after authorities approved it for emergency use for frontline health workers, the official WAM news agency reported on Saturday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Al-Owais said the UAE aims to provide all safety means for the “heroes” working on the front lines and to protect them from any dangers they may face dur to the nature of their work in battling the coronavirus outbreak, according to the news agency.The vaccine is “fully and completely compatible with laws and regulations,” the minister said during a televised press conference on Monday. He also said the vaccine is effective and safe and has resulted in a “strong response” by generating antibodies in trial volunteers.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.COVID-19 vaccine trialA total of 31,000 volunteers of 125 nationalities participated in the clinical trials held in the UAE, a government official said during the press conference.Doctor Nawal al-Kaabi said initial results of the ongoing trial are “encouraging” and only minor side effects were detected in volunteers who developed antibodies.“No serious side effects that require immediate medical treatment were recorded,” she added.Al-Kaabi also said the vaccine did not cause any complications on 1,000 volunteers who have pre-existing conditions.Health authorities have followed quality control procedures and safety measures to ensure the efficacy of the vaccine, according to al-Kaabi.Read also:UAE approves COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for front line workersBahrain Crown Prince volunteers for phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trialUAE limits family gatherings, weddings, funerals to 10 people
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE health minister vaccinated with first COVID-19 vaccine dose

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