- Title: Pregnant American reunited with British husband after quarantine in UAE
- Date: 13th April 2020
- Summary: DUBAI, UAE (APRIL 13, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COUPLE SITTING ON SWING AND EMBRACING EACH OTHER
- Embargoed: 27th April 2020 16:09
- Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus Pregnant American woman reunites with husband Quarantine
- Location: ABU DHABI AND DUBAI, UAE
- City: ABU DHABI AND DUBAI, UAE
- Country: UAE
- Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA002C9BQTS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hannah O'Reilly, who is six months pregnant, has been reunited with her husband, Daniel, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after first getting stranded in the United States by the coronavirus outbreak and then having to spend 11 days in quarantine in a UAE hotel.
"Here we go into freedom," the 29-year-old American said as she finally left her room at the four-star Redisson Blu in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi last week.
O'Reilly, a teacher with residency in Dubai, had been visiting family in New Jersey when the UAE suspended passenger flights as part of measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Her British husband had stayed on in Dubai.
Hannah decided to leave the states for the UAE, citing mounting concerns about the costs of being stuck indefinitely in the United States, pregnant and without health insurance.
After Emirati media highlighted her case, UAE authorities put her on an evacuation flight for Emiratis being repatriated to the Gulf Arab state from Washington D.C.
Grateful for her rescue, she has discussed the experience on her Instagram account @queenquarantineuae, where she has also highlighted cases of other UAE residents still stuck abroad.
Expatriates make up around 80 percent of the population of the UAE, which has recorded 4,123 coronavirus infections and 22 deaths.
On landing in the UAE, O'Reilly tested negative for the new coronavirus but was held under observation in quarantine as per regulations.
Her husband had to get a permit to leave the house to collect her from the hotel under the rules of a 24-hour curfew imposed to curb the spread of the virus.
Happy to be finally reunited with her husband, home and cat, O'Reilly said she was touched by the Emiratis who messaged her to say: "Welcome home ... we are happy you are here."
(Production: Abdelhadi Ramahi, Tarek Fahmy) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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