Denmark bars flights from UAE, cites tests

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark has quickly suspended all flights from the United Arab Emirates for 5 days immediately after suspicion arose that the coronavirus assessments that can be received ahead of leaving Dubai are not responsible, authorities declared Friday.

The enhancement, which comes amid a surge of infections in the UAE, poses a direct challenge to the mass tests regime that experienced been the pillar of the country’s coronavirus response and economic reopening. Dubai was one of the world’s first locations to open up up to tourists, welcoming guests from wherever with only a coronavirus take a look at.

Danish Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht claimed the choice was built to make it possible for the subject to be comprehensively investigated and assure that the exams are remaining carried out effectively.

“We can not disregard these a suspicion,” Engelbrecht mentioned, adding that the ban took effect Thursday evening.

Danish authorities confronted a “concrete and major citizen inquiry into” how the assessments are carried out at Dubai entry and exit points, he stated, and “hence we require to be certainly absolutely sure that there are no troubles.”

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Engelbrecht mentioned at minimum “1 citizen” introduced the South African variant of the virus “back again from Dubai.” He did not detect the individual. Dubai has noticed an enhance in the amount of South African citizens as the country’s financial state deteriorated in current years.

Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet mentioned Friday there has been a second report of allegedly sloppy virus testing in Dubai, and cited Engelbrecht as expressing “the information and facts look specific and valid.”

Considering the fact that Jan. 9, Denmark has demanded that all travellers arriving in the Scandinavian nation have a negative coronavirus examination or proof that they have a short while ago experienced covid-19, the illness brought on by the virus.

The UAE’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately reply to a ask for for remark on the flight suspension and the suspicions bordering the tests.

On Jan. 8, Denmark’s Overseas Ministry recommended versus journey abroad, together with small business vacation. On Tuesday, Danish Key Minister Mette Frederiksen advised neighborhood media that “there is a rationale why we really inquire absolutely everyone not to journey. It truly is seriously crucial that everybody listens.”

“There is a danger of bringing [virus] mutations to Denmark,” she explained. “It can undermine our epidemic manage and thus infect others and what is even worse.”

In the latest times, a number of Danish celebrities, socialites and influencers — these types of as former boxer Mikkel Kessler, previous football global Nicklas Bendtner and table tennis ace Michael Maze — have traveled to Dubai and posted pics of on their own on social media.

In accordance to media in Denmark, there are currently 85 Danish nationals there and about 800 lasting Danish inhabitants of Dubai.

​​​​​Information for this post was contributed by Isabel DeBre of The Associated Press.

Travellers occasion on a yacht in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Given that becoming 1 of the world’s initially places to open up up for tourism, Dubai has promoted by itself as the best pandemic holiday place. With peak tourism year in complete swing, coronavirus bacterial infections are surging to unparalleled heights, with day by day case counts almost tripling in the earlier month, but in the confront of a developing economic crisis, the town will never lock down and are not able to pay for to stand nevertheless. (AP Photograph/Kamran Jebreili)

Holidaymakers party on a yacht in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Considering the fact that turning out to be just one of the world’s initially places to open up up for tourism, Dubai has promoted alone as the ideal pandemic trip location. With peak tourism year in total swing, coronavirus bacterial infections are surging to unparalleled heights, with every day circumstance counts virtually tripling in the past thirty day period, but in the experience of a escalating financial disaster, the town won’t lock down and can’t find the money for to stand nonetheless. (AP Image/Kamran Jebreili)

Travelers and people delight in the sunset at the Jumeirah Seaside Residence, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Coronavirus infections are surging to unprecedented heights in the United Arab Emirates. But Dubai, the glimmering metropolis-point out driven by legions of foreign laborers and travelers, is resisting a lockdown through its peak tourism time. (AP Image/Kamran Jebreili)