Coronavirus: UAE reports 1,359 Covid-19 cases, 2,037 recoveries, 2 deaths

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Sunday reported 1,359 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 2,037 recoveries. Two deaths were also reported.

As many as 118,058 new Covid-19 tests were carried out, taking the total to over 12.4 million in the UAE so far.

Dubai on Saturday extended its stimulus package by Dh500 million to support the local economy to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and expedite economic recovery. This took the total stimulus package announced by the emirate’s government this year to Dh6.8 billion. The additional package was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. "We are aware of the great challenges that the pandemic has imposed on various economic sectors around the world. Our goal is to overcome all these challenges and accelerate recovery and establish a new phase of economic growth," said Sheikh Hamdan.

Despite Covid-triggered challenges, businesses in the UAE cannot randomly fire employees or deduct salaries, an Emirati lawyer said yesterday. Concerned about the plight of some expats who reportedly lost their livelihoods without due process, lawyer Abdul Monem Bin Suwaidan said employees have every right to file a complaint if they believe they were deprived of their labour rights during the Covid-19 outbreak. At the end of March, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) passed a resolution to regulate jobs and salaries in businesses that were affected by the pandemic. Companies have been allowed to temporarily cut salaries or send staff on leaves — provided that they meet the requirements and follow the legal process.

• Dubai
• Abu Dhabi