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Mosques and places of worship in the UAE will be allowed to accommodate more people, under new rules announced during the weekly Covid-19 briefing on Tuesday.
Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said mosques will be allowed to reduce the physical distance between worshippers from two metres to 1.5 metres.
He also announced that up to 50 people can attend funerals and mourning services — double the previous number — if the death was not related to Covid-19.
Meanwhile, he said, a study carried out by the Ministry of Education found that the majority of parents want to see their children return to schools for in-person learning this year.
The study found that 73 per cent of parents wished to see children returning to classrooms, while 27 per cent preferred to continue with distance learning.
The briefing was told that there had been a three-fold increase in face-to-face learning this year.
“This year we had an increase in the number of face-to-face learning where the percentage has reached more than 37 per cent, in comparison with last year where it was only at 11 per cent," said Dr Al Dhaheri.
“It is also expected that these percentages will increase in the coming period with an increase in the number of vaccinated students.”
He said the latest statistics showed 36 per cent of pupils had been vaccinated and inoculations among education and support staff had reached 89.5 per cent.
“This is considered a positive indicator that shows to what extent there is willingness among people to take the vaccine and it increases the safety in our educational environment,” said Dr Al Dhaheri.
Officials said there would be free testing in all private and public schools for all vaccinated pupils and members of staff every 30 days — but it was not clear whether this would extend to the whole country.
Each of the emirates has set out its own rules in recent weeks.
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
