Expo 2020 chief positive about ‘strong impact’ of Covid vaccines
Expo 2020 Dubai organisers are optimistic they will be able to welcome millions of visitors to the event, with Covid-19 vaccination programmes being carried out around the world.
Reem Al Hashimy, director general of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau and Minister of State for International Co-operation, said she was hopeful the situation would improve as more people were inoculated against the disease.
“We are hopeful that in the next five months we are going to see a better and stronger overall picture,” she told CNBC.
“With a strong vaccination roll-out in different parts [of the world] we are actually beginning to see finally the strong impact of vaccination and reduced prevalence of disease in society.
“We may still end up with vortexes here and there that still remain difficult. But, by and large, we are hoping for more of a recovery.”
Ms Al Hashimy told Bloomberg Daybreak that she would encourage everyone to take the shot and that the entire Expo workforce would be vaccinated.
“But we’re not enforcing it on the regular tourist or the regular visitor,” she said.
Ms Al Hashimy said Covid-19 testing would be in place for visitors.
She was also asked whether the event could be cancelled if the pandemic grew worse.
“We’re not cancelling October 1, 2021. We’re going to host this event, it’s going to be a spectacular and great event,” she told Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, India’s virus death toll increased by a record 3,780 yesterday and another 382,315 infections were reported.
The outbreak in the country has the potential to worsen in the coming weeks, with some research models predicting the death toll could more than double.
Dr K Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific adviser to the Indian government, said yesterday that a third wave of Covid-19 was inevitable and that the country must be prepared to tackle it.
Expo 2020 Dubai organisers said they are positive about welcoming millions of visitors, as coronavirus vaccines are given around the world.
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Co-operation and Director General of the Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said she was optimistic about the situation improving as more people are inoculated.
“We are hopeful that in the next five months we are going to see a better and stronger overall picture,” she told CNBC.
“With a strong vaccination rollout in different parts [of the world] we are actually beginning to see finally the strong impact of vaccination and reduced ... prevalence of disease. We may still end up with vortexes here and there that still remain difficult. But, by and large, we are hoping for more of a recovery.”
Ms Al Hashimy later told Bloomberg Daybreak that she would encourage everyone to be vaccinated.
“Currently, vaccination is something that we’re encouraging everybody to do, [and for] all of our workforce it’s going to be mandatory,” she said.
“But we’re not enforcing it on the regular tourist or the regular visitor,” she said.
Ms Al Hashimy said testing would be in place for visitors at various stages.
She gave the example of more than 170 foreign delegates who met in Dubai to discuss final preparations who were PCR-tested on arrival at the airport, then tested ahead of the summit, followed by a rapid test on the day.
“Testing is an important measure but it’s not foolproof. And that’s why we’re being very conscious of social distancing and also very conscious of masks,” she said.
She was also asked whether the event could be cancelled in the event of a worsening Covid-19 situation.
“No. We’re not cancelling October 1, 2021. We’re going to host this event, it’s going to be a spectacular and great event,” she told Bloomberg.
“This has been a 10-year journey. Everybody is keen on having this Expo.”
Last month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, said all foreign country representatives and pavilion staff, many of whom will live in Dubai for nine months or more, will be offered a Covid-19 vaccine.
Engineers and workers from dozens of nations are completing work on pavilions across the Dubai South site and planning events to attract tourists and residents.
The six-month expo will begin in October. Organisers expect 25 million visits, with more than 190 countries confirming participation.
“Across 182 days, we remain confident that we will be able to attract that number,” Ms Al Hashimy said.