Giving relief to their citizens travelling abroad even without taking vaccines, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to lift the restriction imposed on their citizens from travelling to foreign countries without taking vaccines.

The citizens can now start travelling to foreign countries from April 19, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said.

"Those UAE citizens, who have not received main or booster doses against the coronavirus, will be allowed to leave the United Arab Emirates starting from April 19 if they have negative coronavirus tests passed not earlier than 48 hours before the trip," The ban was introduced by the UAE over the spread of the omicron strain of the coronavirus in early 2022. However, the number of new COVID-19 cases in the UAE, like in many other countries, is currently decreasing, urging governments to ease restrictions

While the UAE has lifted restrictions on foreign trips, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it is extending its COVID-19 mask mandate for public transportation and aeroplanes until May 3.

 Considering the potential impact of the rise of cases on severe disease, including hospitalizations, the restriction will remain effective, the statement said. The Biden administration has extended the order several times as it has struggled to react to COVID-19 and a range of variants. The order comes as more than 20 states reported increases in infections fueled by the BA.2 variant, a highly transmissible strain, but also a corresponding fall in hospitalizations.

The public transportation mask mandate is one of the few federal coronavirus measures left in place. The order has faced a host of legal challenges and significant pushback from government officials, businesses and ordinary Americans.

Earlier this year, the CEOs of major American airlines penned a letter to the administration asking it to end the mask requirement on aeroplanes. The signatories complained that their employees have to bear the unenviable task of enforcing the mask mandate and dealing with increasingly hostile passengers.