ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman Al-Owais has taken the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine dose days after authorities approved it for emergency use for frontline health workers, the official WAM news agency reported on Saturday.

Al-Owais said the UAE aims to provide all safety means for the “heroes” working on the front lines and to protect them from any dangers they may face during to the nature of their work in battling the coronavirus outbreak, according to the news agency.

Limits on social gatherings

Only 10 immediate family members can attend social events and gatherings in the United Arab Emirates, health authorities said on Friday as they outlined the latest coronavirus safety protocols.

In a post on Twitter, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said that weddings and other family occasions must be limited to only 10 “first degree attendees of both families.”

Guests are also required to conduct a COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to the event as a precautionary measure.

The same rules also apply to funerals and related services including prayers and burials.

The number of people responsible for digging a grave has been reduced to only two and pallbearers are limited to between four and eight, according to the latest rules. Authorities are also requiring all tools be disinfected before and after a burial.

Workers in cemeteries are required to wear a face mask at all times and must disclose any respiratory symptoms, including coughing, and avoid attending the funeral. — Agencies