Combating coronavirus: #StayHome, take Covid-19 advisories seriously, says Emirati evacuated from US

Dubai - AlHouli said he is getting top-quality healthcare because he was evacuated and brought back to the UAE.

An Emirati student, who contracted Covid-19 in the US, has urged UAE residents to adhere to the country's #StayHome directive and avoid making the mistakes he did. Mohammed AlHouli, 24, told Khaleej Times that he did not take the coronavirus warnings and advisories seriously.
"I was still going out and socialising when the numbers were mounting in the US. The UAE government is doing its best to contain the spread of the virus. But the onus is on us to stay home and stop the spread," he said.
Grateful to be back in UAE
AlHouli said he is getting top-quality healthcare because he was evacuated and brought back to the UAE. "If I was still stuck in the US, I would have been in a difficult situation. I would not have had access to this kind of medical treatment."
He tested positive for the coronavirus on March 27 and is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Abu Dhabi. "Here, I don't have to worry about anything. We are way ahead of many other countries in our preparedness to fight this disease."
Al Houli, who was pursuing Financial Engineering at the Virginia Commonwealth University, said he was among the hundreds of UAE nationals who were flown back to the UAE from different parts of the world. On March 17, the UAE called on all Emiratis to return home as the number of coronavirus cases soared, and the global pandemic triggered flight cancellations and border closures.
Al Houli said he and other Emiratis in the US were contacted and asked to assemble at the embassy. "We flew back on March 25. On arrival at the airport, we were all screened for the coronavirus and later moved to a hotel for a 14-day mandatory quarantine."
Testing positive
The student said he was taken to the hospital after testing positive. "I had a slight fever when I was in the flight. It soon developed into a flu with all the symptoms. I had fever, headache, loss of appetite and fatigue. I even lost my sense of smell. Now, I am feeling better," said AlHouli.
"I am really happy to be back home. I am celebrating my 25th birthday in 12 days and I hope I will test negative by then. The first thing I want to do when I am out of the hospital is to volunteer and support others help fight this pandemic."
anjana@khaleejtimes.com