The organiser of Expo 2020 Dubai has announced that close-contact events such as parades and roving entertainers will be suspended temporarily, as the UAE sees a surge in Covid-19 cases.

READ: Covid concerns mire Expo 2020 Dubai 

All other events, including festivities for the holiday season, concerts and forums, will continue as planned.

An additional PCR testing centre has also been added to the expo site, bringing the total to four. Meanwhile, free testing will be provided to all country pavilion workers.

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Mandatory vaccination and boosters for all expo and international participant staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers is required. 

Visitors age 18 and above must present proof of any vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. In addition, the event maintains on-site sanitisation stations and mandatory face masks both in indoor and outdoor spaces.

The event had recorded more than 7 million visits by 20 December, with virtual visits crossing 31 million.

Covid cases soar in the UAE

The UAE is observing its highest Covid-19 case count since September 2021. Officials reported a 50 per cent increase in new cases within 24 hours on 21 December.

Safety measures have already been announced for the country's Christmas and New Year celebrations to limit the spread of the virus, including PCR testing requirements for public gatherings and limited venue capacity.