COVID-19 test, 14-day house quarantine must for GCC nationals on arrival in UAE

The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nationals wishing to enter the UAE should undergo COVID-19 medical test and place themselves under house quarantine for 14 days, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Friday.

Those who do not have their own residences in the UAE will be quarantined at designated places by the relevant authorities.

The new decision will come into effect at 10:00am local UAE time on Saturday, (March 21), and will continue until further notice. This is part of precautionary and preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The ministry also stated, "the quarantine procedures are set to protect the health of GCC nationals."

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus and its continuing impact on air travel services globally, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines will operate special chartered flights to Russia to ensure repatriation of Russian and UAE citizens.

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In reference to the UAE’s announcement of a renewable two-week suspension of entry for valid residence permit holders, who are currently out of the country, that entered into effect at noon on Thursday, March 19, as part of preventive procedures amidst the spread of COVID-19 around the world, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has established a round-the-clock helplines to facilitate procedures.

Holders of valid residence permits overseas and their family members and first-degree relatives in the UAE can call the helplines 0097124965228 and 97192083344 for enquiries and assistance for humanitarian and emergency cases to ensure their safe return to the UAE, the ministry said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) welcomed the news on Friday that the Chinese city where the new coronavirus first emerged in December had for the first time reported no new cases in 24 hours.

“Yesterday, Wuhan reported no new cases for the first time since the outbreak started,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference.

“Wuhan provides hope for the rest of the world that even the most severe situation can be turned around.”

Italy on Friday reported a record 627 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, taking its overall toll past 4,000 as the pandemic gathered pace despite government efforts to halt its spread. The total number of deaths was 4,032, with the number of infections reaching 47,021. Italy’s previous one-day record death toll was 475 on Wednesday.