Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has updated its requirements for COVID-19 PCR testing on Day 4 and Day 8 for people entering the emirate. Taking to its official social media handles, the ADPHC has issued a clarification on the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the procedures when entering Abu Dhabi.

In its clarification, the ADPHC has noted that volunteers participating in vaccine clinical trials and people who have received the vaccination as part of national inoculation programs are exempted from the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test on Day 4 and Day 8 after entry to the emirate. These people must have active icons (gold star or letter E) on the AlHosn app for exemption from PCR tests at the Abu Dhabi border.

Significantly, after receiving the vaccination, people get a symbol on their AlHosn application that provides them exemption from presenting a negative COVID-19 test at the Abu Dhabi border. These marks include:

Volunteers in the clinical trials will get a gold star on the AlHosn app

Individuals vaccinated under the National Vaccination Programme will see an ‘E’ on the application.

How can members of the community receive the status?

With effect from January 17, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Committee and Department of Health updated their procedures for COVID-19-related exemptions in the emirate. As per the updated measures, these symbols will only be active on the AlHosn app if a PCR test is taken every seven days.

Those vaccinated or volunteering in the National Vaccination Programme will be required to get tested weekly to retain the vaccination notification on the AlHosn application. The status is valid for seven days only at a time.

With this icon on the AlHosn app, people would be exempted from taking a PCR or Diffractive Phase Interferometry (DPI) test while entering Abu Dhabi and re-tests on Day 4 and Day 8.