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Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: Highest ever recoveries recorded; 88 Indian medics arrive in Dubai; over 500 Pakistanis to fly home today
A round-up of major developments related to Covid-19 across the country.
The UAE has recorded 458 Covid-19 recoveries in a single day - its highest ever. This brings the total number of recoveries in the country to 4,295. Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Government, said 25 per cent of all Covid-positive patients have now recovered. The UAE has 12,937 Covid-19 active cases. The official announced 624 new infections after 33,155 more tests were carried out, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 17,417. She also announced 11 deaths, taking the toll to 185.Dr Al Shamsi attributed the increase in recovery cases to the proactive measures being taken in the country. "We call on the public to cooperate with the health authorities and to continue adhering to all precautionary measures, including staying at home, social distancing protocols and wearing of face masks."
Indian medics arrive to help with war on Covid
The first batch of 88 medical professionals from India landed at 8.20pm at T2, Dubai International Airport, to help with the fight against Covid-19 in the UAE. The nurses, who arrived via a special FlyDubai flight from Bengaluru International Airport, have all been handpicked from Aster DM Healthcare's hospitals in the Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Each of them were warmly welcomed with a red rose.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will repatriate more than 500 stranded Pakistani citizens in the UAE through 3 special flights from Dubai to Faisalabad and Karachi today, Khaleej Times has learnt. Two special PIA flight are schedule to depart to Faisalabad at 10.30am and 4.30pm, carrying 140 passengers each on Airbus A320 while the airline's 777 will take off from Dubai to Karachi at 12.30pm to repatriate more than 250 people. "PIA is ready to operate more special flights to facilitate stranded Pakistani citizens in the UAE as it noticed higher demand from Dubai to Peshawar and Islamabad," Shahid Mughal, regional manager for UAE at PIA, told Khaleej Times on Sunday.
The Ministry of Education has said that distance learning system for all educational levels will remain effective until the end of the current academic year in accordance with a previous decision. The ministry further clarified that any decision for the academic year 2020-2021 is still under review and will be taken based on the health situation and precautionary measures.
Emirates is operating limited passenger flights to carry travellers from select destinations back to the UAE. The announcement regarding the same has been made on the airline's official website. The current destinations for return flights include Frankfurt and London Heathrow and the passengers arriving from other countries on Emirates have to undergo a mandatory Dubai Health Authority Covid-19 test upon their arrival in UAE, observe a 14-day compulsory quarantine and a follow up test before their release. It was on Friday, May 8, that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has opened booking for the UAE residents who are stuck abroad and want to return to the country. Starting from May 9, the airline has opened booking in nearly a dozen cities.
The latest research conducted by Mohammed bin Rashid Medicine and Health Sciences University, Dubai Health Authority and Al Jalila Children's Specialised hospital has identified two types of Covid-19 strains. Dr Alawi Al Shihi Ali, member of the Emirates Scientific Council and the official spokesperson for the UAE Advanced Sciences Sector, said: "Today, less than three weeks after the first genetic sequence was announced in the UAE, we announce the recording of key results for 49 patients with Covid-19. This includes recording the complete genetic sequence for 25 patients from the first cases in the UAE. "The study found that there are two types of the strains in the UAE among the first cases in the country. The results showed that the genetic sequence of 24 patients had strain B and most of them came from European countries. One case of strain A was recorded in a visitor who came from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Two workplace safety devices have been introduced at Dubai Customs, as the government department prepares to reopen its offices for 30 per cent of employees. Designed to curb the spread of Covid-19, the devices would allow people to check their temperatures, sanitise their hands, and disinfect their mobile phones. The first smart tool, called Safe Station, is equipped with thermal cameras that automatically detects any rise in the user's temperature, said Khawla Slaes, head of the administrative affairs department at Dubai Customs. "It also features protective masks, automatic sanitisers, and a smart screen displaying awareness information about precautions and safety guidelines," she said. With its wheels, the station can also be moved around easily, Slaes added.
Abu Dhabi Police has urged community members to adhere to Covid-19 precautionary measures and procedures or face fine of up to Dh10,000. Police asked residents to maintain social distance of not less than 2 metres, wear face masks and avoid crowded places and strictly follow the National Sterilisation Programme guidelines. Police warned against public gatherings and meetings, holding of public or private events, including at private farms. Organiser of such events face Dh10,000 fine and attendees Dh5,000. Also, Dh1,000 is fine for not maintaining social distancing. And a fine of Dh1,000 will be imposed on a driver if there are more than three individuals in a vehicle. "This applies to taxi drivers and passengers who are not second-degree family. However, first-degree relatives are exempt from the limitation," police said.
Abu Dhabi Police on Saturday announced the reopening of two of its Customer Happiness centres as well as its Light Vehicle Inspection centres. Both the Al Wagan centre, located in Al Ain, and the Ghaythi Tamm Centre, located in Al Dhafra, will resume operations from tomorrow, and be open for service from Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 2pm, according to the notice. Last week, RTA too reactivated its mobile customers' happiness centre, delivering six key services related to vehicles. The services include registration, renewal of registration of a vehicle that needs testing, ownership certificate, ownership transfer certificate, export, and transfer. To request the service, customers can send a WhatsApp message to 056-4146777 with their name and location. Bookings need to be done three days in advance.
Home health care is gaining ground in the UAE as many licensed healthcare staff is now catering to patients' needs right at their doorstep, amid the Covid-19 scare. While hospitals are ramping up phone or video visits, even the smartest phone can't physically dress a wound or get someone to the bathroom. Therefore, home care nurses, aides and attendants are taking on the difficult and potential risk of caring for patients who not only need palliative care or physiotherapy but under certain special conditions are even catering to outpatient care. Indian expat PG Sunder has high blood pressure and around mid-April, he realised, his medicines were running out. Unable to go to the doctor, he decided to get in touch with his physician virtually, who then advised a lipid profile test. "We availed the 'Lab At Home' service by Aster, where an attendant following all hygiene protocols came to our apartment's lobby to take my husband's blood samples. They even instructed us beforehand about taking certain safety precautions pertaining to Covid-19," said Sunder's wife Prabha Iyer
The civic body in Dibba Al Fujairah has ordered the closure of three pharmacies for unreasonably increasing the price of hand sanitisers. Eng Hassan Salem Al Yamahi, Director General of the Dibba Al Fujairah Municipality, said the erring pharmacies have violated the circulars regarding Covid-19 precautionary measures. "More inspection campaigns will be launched round the clock to ensure adherence to set rules and preventive measures." Al Yamahi urged the public to report any violation they come across to the municipality's emergency number 092443399.
After two successful days, the journey home for stranded Indian citizens continued into Saturday, May 9. One more special repatriation flight, carrying stranded passengers departed for Lucknow on May 9. The flight that was scheduled to depart at 3.15 pm saw passengers coming in as early as 10:00am to complete all formalities. The flight apparently carried 180 passengers and 2 infants on board. Of these more than 100 are workers, 8 pregnant women, 19 medical cases, 10 elderly, 2 students and others. The Indian government on Monday had announced plans to begin phased repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad from May 7.
Safety is a top priority as more companies in the UAE resume operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic. With an aim to support these organisations across the country, Champion Neon has launched solutions that would help protect employees and customers from the virus. A member of Champion Group, a leading signage manufacturer in the UAE, Champion Neon now offers smart sanitisation tunnels, automatic dispensers, IR face scanners, safety signages for wall and floor applications and, most importantly, protective shields. Shabbir Merchant, founder of Champion Neon, said: "Despite the UAE returning to normalcy with opening up of new businesses, people are still practising social distancing norms and extreme hygiene standards.
Three Abu Dhabi-based brothers are devastated over the loss of their father, who passed away in Indian city of Hyderabad. Brothers Syed Amer, Syed Mazher and Syed Azher, who work here, are now desperate to get back home and see their father one last time, and more importantly comfort their mother, who is a heart patient. "My father Syed Qadeer passed away following a major heart attack. We are four brothers with three of us here in Abu Dhabi. It was Syed Muzaffer, our youngest brother who is studying back home, who took our father to the hospital. But he couldn't be saved. Hospital staff informed father had died on the way," Amer said. The brothers are shocked as their father was a physically fit person.
Fifty rental disputes shall be tackled in Sharjah as the municipality resumes its hearings via virtual sessions starting today. Thabit Al Turaifi, director-general of the Sharjah Municipality, confirmed that the sessions will be conducted through video-conferencing technologies, allowing both judges and parties concerned attending the hearing from their homes. A link is sent to the people involved in the cases and once they click on it, they will be directed to the video communication channel set up for the session, according to Mohamed Hassan Al Hammadi, director of the rental regulatory department. Smart devices are also provided for these e-hearings. "This method will help speed up case resolutions and support the paperless initiative of the municipality," Al Hammadi said.
A mobile coronavirus testing centre has been launched by the Abu Dhabi Police, in partnership with the health department in the emirate. Lt-Col Thuraya Ali Al Hashemi, director of the medical services department at the Abu Dhabi Police, said the mobile testing centre includes two clinics with medical and administrative staff from the Abu Dhabi Police and the Department of Health (DoH). The teams will work with high efficiency to enhance the efforts of the nation in dealing with the coronavirus. "The service will support the precautionary measures being implemented by the health authorities to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic so as to protect the health and safety of the community," he added.
Pregnant expat 'without marriage certificate' hopes to fly back home
Vande Bharat Mission has come as a saviour for Dubai-based Indian expat Poonam Singh, who is now 35 weeks pregnant. She is hoping to leave on the first repatriation flight to New Delhi because she can't give birth in the UAE - for lack of a valid marriage certificate. Poonam and her husband Anoop hail from a remote village in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where solemnisation and marriage certification are done by the gram panchayat (village council) - age-old norms are still being practised there. However, a marriage document with the seal of a village head is not valid in the UAE. "We are from a village in Tehri Garhwal, where our marriage was held. There, no one has any idea about the importance of marriage certificates. I came to the UAE on a visit visa in October 2018 and, by next February, had a job as a hotel receptionist," Poonam said.
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