ABU DHABI — The UAE's health ministry on Monday approved a protocol to ease COVID-19 countermeasures and enhance safe movement and tourism in the country. Under the new protocol, called "green pass," Alhosn app will have to be used to show people's vaccination status and PCR test validity, the health ministry said in a statement carried by the country's official news agency WAM. The ministry added that the move falls within its strategy to address the pandemic, preserve public health and speed up the efforts being made at the country level to ensure a sustainable recovery. The green pass protocol allows federal and local authorities to determine the use of the Alhosn app according to their individual needs and procedures in a way that ensures a safe and healthy environment for all, including citizens, residents and visitors. As part of the new move, the Alhosn color-coding system defines six categories, including fully vaccinated, second dose recipients, first dose recipients waiting for second dose, or late to their second dose appointment, those exempt from receiving the vaccine and the non-vaccinated. Category 1: For those vaccinated who have received their second dose at least 28 days earlier or are volunteers in vaccine trials, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for 30 days as well as show the active icon (letter E or gold star) for seven days. Category 2: For those who have received their second dose less than 28 days earlier, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for 14 days. Category 3: For those who have received their first dose and are waiting for their second dose appointment, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for seven days. Category 4: For those who have received their first dose and are late to their second dose appointment by 48 days or more, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for three days. Category 5: For those with vaccine exemption certificates as per approved processes, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for seven days. Category 6: For those unvaccinated and who do not have vaccine exemption, a negative PCR test result will see the Alhosn status appear in green for three days. For all categories, the Alhosn status will turn from green to gray once the relevant PCR test validity ends. The status will turn red should the test result be positive, whereupon approved procedures have to be followed.
