Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates announced Monday that unvaccinated people will soon be banned from shopping centers, restaurants, universities, recreational facilities, and other places as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The city’s government said the far-reaching measure had been approved by the Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee and will take effect on August 20. Children below the age of 16 and those who have an official exemption will not be affected.
“The committee stated [that] the decision would enhance safety in areas that have been subject to additional precautionary measures and provide enhanced protection for community members,” the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said in a statement.
As a result, from August 20, those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, and all other retail outlets, including those which are not part of a shopping center, except supermarkets and pharmacies.
Other places where unvaccinated people will be banned are gyms, recreational facilities, health clubs, resorts, museums, cultural centers, theme parks, universities, institutes, public and private schools, and nurseries.
The United Arab Emirates has recorded more than 607,000 coronavirus cases and 1,802 deaths since the start of the pandemic. More than 2,000 new cases were reported on Monday, along with six new deaths.
cmcorms on June 28th, 2021 at 21:31 UTC »
I live in Qatar and we have a similar policy.
It works through an app on your phone. It will show if you are negative (provides last test date), should be quarantined, positive, and of course vaccinated.
The app also tracks you via bluetooth and also displays your medical card and ID info. Edit: it has been pointed out that bluetooth only offers contact tracing, not tracking as its not capable of that.
If your phone dies or you don't have it on you, you aren't getting into anything, they check it at the door.
Kinda freaks me out a bit, and I'm not anti vax at all.
thelastdaeric on June 28th, 2021 at 21:05 UTC »
We got the same thing going on where I live. We got an app called Immune here in Kuwait that shows wether if a person is vaccinated or not.
And since yesterday all non vaccinated people were banned from entering malls, restaurants and other public spaces.
daddymateriial on June 28th, 2021 at 18:46 UTC »
How would this even be enforced?