UAE: New Covid rules ‘to ease as vaccine coverage expands’

UAE: New Covid rules ‘to ease as vaccine coverage expands’

The UAE has limited the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to its relatively young population and a range of containment measures, an international think-tank has said.

“A relatively young population, improved testing, and better treatment of the virus in hospitals have kept the number of deaths in the UAE low," the Institute of International Finance said in its report on the UAE.

Quoting authorities in the UAE, the Washington DC-based body said restrictions imposed recently again about social distance to contain he pandemic will fade over time as vaccine coverage expands and therapies continue to improve.

New Covid restrictions in UAE:

>> Abu Dhabi: Cinemas shut, malls to operate at 40% capacity

>> Dubai: Full list of new rules for travel, malls, hospitals

The UAE's coronavirus vaccination is the world's second fastest after Israel. The target is to immunise more than half of the residents by March and 90 per cent by June.

Domestic demand to lead UAE economy

The Institute of International Finance expects modest economic recovery in 2021, with real GDP growing by 2.3 per cent, following a contraction of 5.7 per cent in 2020.

“The recovery will be supported by the partial