During the UAE Government media briefing on the latest COVID-19 pandemic developments, Al Dhaheri noted the UAE’s flexibility and readiness to address any extraordinary conditions, due to its proactive approach to challenges and its decisions, plans and strategies aimed at containing the pandemic’s repercussions. He also praised the role of the national media, which addressed the crisis with complete transparency.

"According to the Bloomberg's COVID Resilience Ranking, the UAE leads the region’s countries and is ranked 15th globally, advancing three places compared to last July," he stated, adding that according to Our World in Data (OWID), a scientific online publication, the UAE leads the world in the number of fully-vaccinated people and terms of vaccine distribution for every 100 persons.

Achieving the nation’s strategic objectives and reaching recovery depends on the roles and responsibilities of all relevant sectors in terms of managing the pandemic, he explained, noting the previous period witnessed a high level of strategic integration and cooperation across all sectors, which helped achieve all the objectives of the country’s proactive plans.

"We noticed a significant decline in COVID-19 infections in the country, which is an achievement that we are proud of and highlights the cooperation between the health sector and other vital sectors in managing the pandemic and containing its implications, in addition to the community’s responsibility that helped reduce infections," Al Dhaheri further added.

"Today we are witnessing the outcomes of the vision of the UAE’s leadership and the efforts of the National COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Management and Governance Committee, chaired by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, which aims to ensure the return to normalcy," he said.

"The committee has adopted a comprehensive strategic plan with performance indicators for the post-COVID-19 period across all target sectors, to gauge the efforts of national authorities and establishments to achieve the return to the new normal. It also electronically linked digital indicators and statistics and identified the financial and economic factors essential to supporting the recovery process," he commented.

"Last week, we witnessed the flexibility of the safe return of students to their schools and the cooperation between academic and administrative cadres in ensuring the safety of physical education, according to the adopted protocol of the Ministry of Education," Al Dhaheri further stated.

"The outcomes of studies aimed at assessing the keenness of parents to see the physical return of their children to school showed that those who are pre-physical education account for 73 percent, versus 27 percent who prefer remote education," he added, highlighting an increase in the physical education rate of over 37 percent as compared to 11 percent, and noting these rates are expected to increase in the coming period.

"Statistics have shown that the percentage of vaccinated students account for 36 percent while the percentage of vaccinated school staff, whether administrative, academic or services staff, account for 89.5 percent," he added.

"We advise parents and educational cadres to take the vaccine, which is available at all health centres in all emirates, to ensure a safe learning environment," he affirmed while pointing out that, to ease the burdens on parents and educational cadres, and in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of Education, PCR tests will be made available free of charge in all public and private educational establishments.

"Under the framework of our efforts to ease transportation and movement between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, we are happy to announce the acceptance of COVID-19 applications available in these countries that are approved by their health ministries for entry into the UAE," he said.

As part of the efforts to achieve sustainable recovery across all sectors, the protocol for the reopening of mosques has been updated, Al Dhaheri explained, noting the safe distance between people coming for prayers will be reduced to 1.5 metres, mosques on external roads will remain closed, and 50 people will be allowed for funeral prayers providing the cause of death is not COVID-19.

"We are aware that the community has a major role in ensuring the safety of everyone and protecting the country’s regional and global gains," he said in conclusion.