Covid-19 news bulletin from UAE: 283 new cases confirmed; Dubai launches drive-thru centre; medicine home delivery service expanded

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

Here's a round-up of all the latest developments you need to be aware of:
UAE confirms 283 new cases of Covid-19

The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced 283 new cases of Covid-19. With these new cases, the total number of infected people in the country stands at 2,359. The ministry also announced the death of an Asian who suffered from chronic diseases, taking the total number of deaths due to the coronavirus to 12. The UAE also announced 19 recoveries, taking the total number of healed cases to 186.The ministry attributed the increase in the number of cases to intensified testing by the authorities concerned. It also said some of the positive cases failed to adhere to quarantine procedures and social distancing.
Dubai drive-thru centre offers free tests to select residents

As part of intensified efforts to combat the coronavirus, the Dubai Health Authority on April 7, announced that it has opened a drive-through Covid-19 testing centre at the Al Nasr Club for the general public. Open from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm daily for both nationals and expatriates, the centre enables members of the public to do a five-minute test free of charge without having to leave their car. Test results will be available in 48 hours.The drive-through facility, with a capacity of more than 250 tests per day, supports efforts to protect the health and safety of the community by giving people an easily accessible centre to test for COVID-19. The centre caters to senior citizens; pregnant women; people of determination; people with chronic diseases; and people with COVID-19 symptoms. Staffed by various highly-trained medical personnel, the new centre is one of the three testing centres run by DHA in Dubai.
Screenshot your movement permit before you step out in Dubai
Now you will need to take a screenshot of the approved movement permit in order to avoid any legal action, the Dubai Police has announced.

Previously, individuals seeking permission to leave their homes during the period of expanded round-the-clock sterilisation operations were just required to register themselves on the website. However, in a new advisory, the Dubai Media office added that members of the public must also take a screenshot of the approved movement permit in order to avoid any legal proceedings.
Medicine home delivery service launched in Abu Dhabi

People living in Abu Dhabi have started getting medicines delivered at their homes from pharmacies thanks to a new initiative by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate. Most of the outpatient pharmacies in the emirate have the approval to offer this service, the DoH-Abu Dhabi told Emirates News Agency, WAM. All the DoH-licensed pharmacies in government (under SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) and private sectors, which adhere to mechanisms and requirements of DoH-Abu Dhabi's new standards for home delivery of patients' medication, have been authorised for this purpose. Patients can now reach out to pharmacies directly to order medicines.
Covid-19 impact: 84% decline in traffic accidents, zero deaths in Sharjah

Traffic accidents have dropped by 84 per cent and no road fatalities recorded in Sharjah since the implementation of the national sterilisation programme to check the rapid march of Covid-19. Four moderate accidents have been witnessed during the period this year as compared to 24 in 2019, said Lt Col Mohammed Allai Al Naqbi, director of traffic and patrols department at Sharjah Police. There were no serious or fatal accidents recorded during the sterilisation drive that starts from 8pm until 6am every day. He pointed out that the commitment of the community members to stay in their homes and not step out except to run necessary errands and adhering to traffic laws have contributed to reducing the accidents and maintaining road safety and security during this difficult time.
Retail outlets, pharmacies to remain open till 12am in Abu Dhabi

All food retail outlets in Abu Dhabi, including cooperative societies, grocery stores and supermarkets, as well as pharmacies, must open until at least 12am and are permitted to open round the clock. The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office on Tuesday announced this latest directive in coordination with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and Department of Economic Development Abu Dhabi. "These stores cannot exceed 30 per cent capacity in order to follow social distancing protocols," it said. The National Sterilisation Programme continues in the emirate from 8pm till 6am. However, new timings have been introduced for industrial zones and labour accommodations.
Commercial activities in Dubai to remain closed until April 18

The closure of all commercial activities in Dubai will continue until the end of the national disinfection programme on April 18, it was announced today. In a tweet, Dubai Economy said that exempted sectors will operate as usual. Earlier this week, a two-week, 24-hour sterilisation campaign was announced in Dubai by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. Residents are urged to #StayHome during this period, and move out only after taking a permit from the official website launched for this purpose. Anyone violating the restrictions will face stringent legal action.
Waterfront Market reopens after permission

Dubai's Waterfront Market has been given permission by the authorities to reopen its Fish, Meat, Dry Goods and Fruit and Vegetable Markets, and these will resume business as normal for all their customers on April 7, 2020. As part of its reopening, Waterfront Market has implemented a range of precautionary health and safety measures in order to combat the spread of Covid-19. A dedicated team has been assigned to implement a 24-hour cleaning programme, which includes disinfecting and sanitising all common areas in addition to their standard hygiene cleaning practices.

Dubai suspends marriage, divorce filings at family court

A family court in Dubai has suspended all personal legal services, including attestations of marriage contracts and divorce certificates, as part of the UAE's latest measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Personal Status Court in Dubai said on Tuesday that it was suspending all legal services related to family matters until further notice.The suspension is part of the bid to prevent social gatherings that would usually occur during such occasions.The court said the decision was based on the rules of Islamic jurisprudence, which state: "Repelling an evil is preferable to securing a benefit". The UAE has suspended all social gatherings and weddings, as well as all social activities, in its attempt to limit the spread of the coronavirus and safeguard public health.
Flydubai starts accepting  bookings to India, Pakistan
Dubai's budget carrier flydubai on Tuesday opened flights for bookings to India and Pakistan while Etihad added more destinations to its special flights to repatriate stranded people from the UAE. However, the resumption of flydubai flights to both the countries is still subject to approval from the respective governments.
The carrier has opened booking for outbound passengers to Indian cities of Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Lucknow, and Mumbai, while Pakistani nationals can book seats for Faisalabad, Karachi, Sialkot and Multan flights.
Etihad Airways added Melbourne and Amsterdam to its special flights to its other destinations, including Seoul Incheon, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta. The airline continues to repatriate UAE citizens on return sectors, where possible.
These special flights from Abu Dhabi will be available for booking through its website. Those Emiratis who wait to return should contact the UAE embassy or consulate.
Emirates airline has already received necessary approval and is operating special flights to five European cities London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich - to repatriate outbound passengers.

Pakistan Embassy in UAE warns people to ignore 'special flights' scam

The Pakistan Embassy in the UAE has issued a warning about a ticket scam involving scurrilous travel agents offering to book tickets on 'special flights' from the UAE to Pakistan. "Flights between the UAE and Pakistan are suspended and there is no announcement of any special flights from UAE to Pakistan so far," said a statement issued by the Embassy on Tuesday.The statement added that the embassy would announce if any special flights would be offered, while stressing that there will be an official announcement whenever normal flight operations between the UAE and Pakistan resume.
Notice high prices in UAE's retail stores? Report them
If residents have detected unreasonable hike in prices of food products, there're many platforms to report such violations.
The Ministry of Economy and government bodies from each emirate have made available helpline phone numbers and websites to register complaints of price hike owing to impact of Covid-19.

Tariq Al Suwaidi, Director, Sharjah Office of the Ministry of Economy, on Tuesday said all efforts were being made to protect the interest of consumers.

"The Ministry of Economy continues to make daily inspections in the markets to check the availability of goods," Al Suwaidi said.

The Ministry of Economy coordinates with the local authorities to monitor prices and inspect more than 1,600 suppliers and retail outlets.
Teacher in UAE dies of heart attack while taking remote classes

An Emirati teacher of a public school in Al Ain died of heart attack as she was giving remote computer lessons to her students. Aisha Issa Al Amrah, a computer teacher at Umm Kulthum School for Secondary Education in Al Amrah in Al Ain, passed away on Monday morning after her heart reportedly stopped functioning while she was conducting a claass. Her body was buried Al Amira cemetry after the funeral prayer at Al Mutawa mosque which was attended by just a few family members as the community adhered to the current precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

7-year-old German girl reunited with family in Abu Dhabi

A seven-year old German girl was reunited with her parents in Abu Dhabi after she got stuck in her home country for a month due to flight suspension and border closure. Godiva Gaertke flew back to the UAE from Frankfurt on Monday night on a special Emirates airline flight."It was incredible to see her after a month. We are so relieved to have back her home. We never want to leave this country," Godiva's mother Viktoria Gaertke told Khaleej Times. "Everybody was so caring throughout the whole process. We are in love with this country, and to know that the government care about expats as much as their citizens, we have an extra reason to love UAE," said Gaertke, who moved to the emirates with her husband Allan in 2018.