Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: 1,129 cases reported; stress on the rise amid pandemic; why UAE will be able to ride out Covid

Abu Dhabi - A round-up of major developments related to Covid-19 across the country.

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know: 
UAE reports 1,129 Covid-19 cases, 1,070 recoveries, 1 death
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Saturday reported 1,129 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,070 recoveries. One death was also recorded. The new cases were identified after conducting additional 136,430 tests. As on October 10, total number of cases in UAE stand at 105,133 with 95, 973 recoveries. Death toll rises to 443. The country has witnessed record recoveries on Thursday and Friday with over 1,700 and 1,400 patients, respectively, beating the virus. UAE has become the first country in the world where the number of Covid-19 tests conducted has exceeded its population (among countries with a population of more than one million).
Dubai student distributes roses to police's frontliners
Dubai student Abarna Sai had observed how hard the police work to keep the community safe in the time of Covid-19. So, she decided to personally thank them by giving them flowers. Sai, a student of Indian High School, called up the Dubai Police's Transport and Rescue Department just so she could hand them her simple gift. "I just wanted to distribute these roses as a tribute to Dubai Police for what they have done in protecting the society from the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am very happy to be with them today," she said, as she was honoured by the police for the heartwarming gesture. Her parents also expressed their thanks to the Dubai Police General Command for allowing their daughter to hand out the roses to the heroes of the General Administration of Transport and Rescue.

Why UAE will be able to ride out Covid crisis faster
The UAE is much more resilient than its GCC counterparts and its economy will ride out the current pandemic crisis with the help of new-age technologies, say analysts. Sarwant Singh, managing partner at Frost & Sullivan, said the UAE fares better when it comes to recovery as witnessed in previous recessions. However, this time it is a little different. "Covid-19 is having a very harsh impact on some of the UAE's core sectors of hospitality, retail, real estate and aviation. I, therefore, feel this time the UAE does not necessarily have an advantage over its peers in the GCC region, and future economic policies will provide evidence of its recovery speed. Future policies currently point towards a more aggressive push towards diversification - a trend that will gain greater momentum across the GCC at large," said Singh.

Think positive to reduce anxiety, say doctors in UAE
Positive thoughts are a powerful tool to reduce stress and its impact on the mind and body even as Covid-19 pandemic undermines people's mental health, said Dr Hadir Abdelrahman, specialist physician, Behavioural Sciences Pavilion, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. "Over the past few months, an atmosphere of heightened anxiety has been created for each one of us. We have been seeing a rise in anxiety, depression and sleeping disorders with the increase in social isolation, confinement measures, along with economic strains and disruptions of the work life balance. People with pre-existing mental health conditions have been adversely affected," he told Khaleej Times. "During this time, mental wellbeing is of utmost importance.  

Stress on the rise amid coronavirus pandemic
Social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an increase in stress, anxiety and depression, generating an urgent need to manage the lack of physical access to therapy and treatment. Findings from the recent Arab Youth Survey highlight the concerns of young Arabs on the lack of access to quality mental healthcare in the region, and the need for governments to invest in education and awareness campaigns and make quality mental health care more affordable. According to this year's findings, nearly two in five (38 per cent) of Arab youth say they know someone with mental health issues, compared to 31 per cent of Arab youth surveyed in 2019.

UAE sends second coronavirus medical aid plane to Jordan
The UAE on Friday sent an aid plane containing 15 tonnes of medical supplies and coronavirus testing kits to Jordan. The aid will assist approximately 15,000 medical professionals as they work to contain the virus. Ahmed Ali Al Balushi, UAE Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, said: "The dispatch of the second plane of urgent medical assistance today affirms the important role played by the UAE in supporting our Arab brothers and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries based on brotherhood, common interests, and one destiny." He added that the aid plane is the second sent by the UAE to Jordan, with the first in June carrying 12.4 tonnes of medical supplies to support healthcare professionals.

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