Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) announced on Saturday that it has slashed the price of PCR swab tests in the UAE. Nasal swab tests for Covid-19 at all SEHA testing centres will now be priced at just 85 dirhams, a 66 per cent reduction from that in September.
The price change is effective immediately and is across all SEHA locations in the UAE. Currently, tests are required for crossing the border into Abu Dhabi from other emirates. A negative test from the past 48 hours is required to enter the emirate, followed by a PCR test on the fourth and eighth day in the emirate if your stay is eight days or more. Those who fail to undergo a test on the fourth and eighth day are liable for fines in the country. Abu Dhabi has also recently removed the need to quarantine for 14 days, for those residents who are vaccinated.
Prices for PCR tests in the UAE have been dropping consistently over the past few months. When testing facilities first opened in the UAE, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests costed 370 dirhams. The first price drop took place on September 10, taking the price down to 250 dirhams. Further drops were recently been announced, which decreased the price of PCR tests to180 dirhams and 150 dirhams. The new 85 dirhams’ price tag makes the testing more accessible, especially for those who require frequent testing. Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Sunday reported 1,153 cases to be coronavirus positive, out of the 92,147 tests that were carried out. Along with 634 recoveries, three deaths were also reported. The UAE has conducted over 17.32 million tests till date as part of the country’s massive screening programmes to combat the spread of Covid-19.
