UAE fights Covid-19: From lockdowns to mask-free rules; here is how the government, frontliners tackled pandemic

UAE fights Covid-19: From lockdowns to mask-free rules; here is how the government, frontliners tackled pandemic

Emirates announces new mandate as the world marked 1,000 days since the first coronavirus case was reported to WHO in December 2019

Published: Tue 27 Sep 2022, 4:56 PM Last updated: Tue 27 Sep 2022, 5:30 PM

On the evening of Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the old market in Karama was bustling with activity. Parents were preparing themselves for the upcoming school spring break, making sports and toy shops among the most crowded in the famous bazaar.

At around 7pm that same evening, media organisations around the globe broke a news that would change the world everyone knew forever. The World Health Organization (WHO) had just declared the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak a global pandemic. At that time, most of the general public was blissfully unaware of the impact this momentous decision would have on them.

However, officials in the UAE government, healthcare workers, community heroes, members of the travel industry and the education sector knew nothing would ever be the same again.

The disease, which originated in Wuhan, China, has caused 6.54 million casualties worldwide and presented an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work.

The UAE government’s unwavering efforts to curb the spread of the virus remained persistent through