Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi extends travel ban

Restrictions continue for another week as health officials screen tens of thousands of people each day

Restrictions on movement in and out of Abu Dhabi and between the emirate's regions have been extended by another week, starting on Tuesday.

The travel restriction, which began on June 2, was brought in to ensure Abu Dhabi's huge testing drive worked effectively in containing the spread of Covid-19.

“This step aims to enhance the effectiveness of the expanded National Screening Programme, which tested more than 388,000 people in the past two weeks, among precautionary and preventative measures being taken to curb the spread of Covid-19,” Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Twitter.

Residents of Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain and Al Dhafra can travel within their cities but not enter or leave them. And they cannot go to other emirates.

The measure does not stop people leaving their homes, other than during the nightly disinfection hours – 10pm to 6am.

Those working in vital sectors, air passengers and other people with special circumstances can seek exemption.

On May 31, Sheikh Abdulla Al Hamed, chairman of Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, said the decision on the initial one-week ban came as the emirate stepped up its testing drive in densely populated areas.

Officials in the emirate are screening all workers living in Mussaffah, an industrial area on the outskirts of the capital to curb the spread of the coronavirus.