Abu Dhabi is set to resume the use of facial COVID-19 scanners for people seeking to enter the emirate from within the UAE with effect from December 19 (Sunday). The announcement was made by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee in view of the rising new infections of COVID-19 in the country.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 148 positive infections from a total of 340,100 PCR tests.

As per the updated protocols, Abu Dhabi authorities will be using EDE scanners to check people for possible COVID-19 infection at the border entry point to the emirate. Developed by EDE Research Institute Abu Dhabi, the scanning system technology measures electromagnetic waves to detect possible COVID-19 infection. The results are generated through the detection of RNA particles of Coronavirus in a person’s body.

The Committee has also affirmed that the scanning technology does not record any personal information of the people tested. The Committee further stated that potential positive cases will be referred to an on-site testing centre where they will undergo a free antigen test. The results of the test will be generated within 20 minutes.

Abu Dhabi authorities had earlier used mobile phone scanners to detect COVID-19 virus at shopping malls across the emirate. The Committee added that the new safety measures implemented at the entry points will strengthen precautionary measures across the region to contain the impact of the virus.

“Abu Dhabi’s low infection rate has been successfully achieved through the ongoing implementation of preventive and precautionary measures, including continuous testing and contact tracing, use of the green pass system to access public places and events, and high vaccination rates," the Committee said.

The scanning system was effectively launched earlier this year after a highly successful pilot phase. On June 28, the EDE scanners were placed at all land and air entry points as well as shopping malls.

The newly-discovered COVID-19 variant Omicron has spread to more than 70 countries across the world. The WHO has stated that the Omicron variant is more transmissible than the Delta strain and has the tendency to reduce vaccine efficacy. The UAE has achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the world with 100 percent of its eligible population having received at least one dose of the vaccine and 91.26 percent fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In line with the declining cases, Abu Dhabi had eased its restrictions to allow rapid return to normalcy in the emirate. As of now, people are not required to show a negative PCR test result or green pass on Al Hosn app to enter Abu Dhabi. However, green colour status and 96 hours PCR test validity continue to be important requirements for people seeking to visit public places and attending and hosting events in Abu Dhabi.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has also announced the requirement for residents to have a green pass and 96-hour negative test result to participate in Christmas and New Year Eve celebrations in public places.