At the same time, the emirate today opened up hotel beaches, museums and sport activities for residents aged 12 to 60 years, and now also allows for dining in mall-based and standalone restaurants up to 40 per cent of their capacity. This is the first time since March that residents will be able to pursue outdoor leisure activities. Al Hamed therefore thanked the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee for easing these restrictions. “[It] has eased restrictions on some activities to give the residents of each region various entertainment options during this period,” he said. “Keep in mind that all measures implemented by Abu Dhabi government departments are part of a series of preventative and precautionary measures to reduce contact and maintain the health and safety of all community members,” Al Hamed added. Abu Dhabi launched the National Screening Programme last month, which aims to test, for free, as many people as possible for the coronavirus. The initiative kicked off in Musaffah, the capital’s industrial area that is densely populated, and it is now also targeting residents in other high-density areas of the emirate. In addition, certain groups of people are also automatically eligible for free screenings, including older residents, pregnant women, Emiratis and those with chronic conditions.
Clint Egbert, Gulf News