Covid-19 wrap from UAE: UAE announced 240 new cases; Emirates announces first flight; National Disinfection programme to continue

According to a statement issued by MoHAP, there were also 12 new recoveries.

1-National Disinfection programme to continue
The UAE has extended 'National Disinfection Programme' launched to fight the spread of the coronavirus. The Ministry of Health Prevention, MoHAP and the Ministry of Interior, MoI, have announced the continuation of the 'National Disinfection Programme' as part of the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the UAE. The two ministries said new facilities and establishments would be added to the disinfection plan, which was due to end on Saturday, April 4, in all emirates of the country. The Programme will be subject to periodic assessment as per recommendations approved by the World Health Organisation and established international practices.This decision comes in light of the successful implementation of the programme, which was launched on Thursday, March 26, with the use of the most advanced technologies. The programme is being carried out with the support and cooperation of several competent bodies and participation of hundreds of workers, supervisors and administrators from federal and local governments.
2-UAE announced 240 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, April 3
According to a statement issued by MoHAP, there were also 12 new recoveries. The total number of cases reported in UAE are 1,264, while 108 have fully recovered. The new cases identified are in a stable condition and receiving treatment. The ministry also reported a death from the coronavirus today, a 51-year-old Asian expat, who tested positive for Covid-19, and died due to complications related to chronic diseases. This takes the total toll in UAE to nine as of today.
3-Air India suspends flight bookings till April 30
Air India has stopped flight bookings until April 30 for all domestic and international routes due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are awaiting a decision post-April 14," a spokesperson said on Friday. The clarification comes in the wake of the airline's offices in the UAE offering bookings for April 15 and beyond. On Thursday, India's Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said that India may look to resume flights with the UAE once the 21-day lockdown ends on April 14. Other airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet have also extended temporary suspension of services until April 30.
4-Emirates announces first flight post suspension
Emirates has received approvals to carry passengers on certain flights, effective April 6. Initial flights will commence from Dubai to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich, with four flights a week to London Heathrow, and three flights a week to the other cities. Operating from Dubai International airport Terminal 2 until further notice, these flights will only carry outbound passengers from the UAE. Emirates will also carry belly-hold cargo in both directions, supporting trade and communities with the transport of essential goods.
5-Self-quarantine app launched in UAE
The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi on Friday launched StayHome app for those in mandatory quarantine. A person who has been identified for home quarantine will be asked by the department to download the app from Google Play or App Store. The app ensures that the person adheres to mandatory requirements, thus preventing the spread of Covid-19. "Every person asked to self-quarantine at home will get a username and password to be able to use the app. The app then sends alerts that inform users to stay within the range of movement allowed during the quarantine."
6-Two drive-through Covid-19 test centres and a lab to open in Dubai
Three specialised novel coronavirus (Covid-19) testing facilities will open up in Dubai by next week that will be able to conduct the test in anywhere between one and five minutes, an Arabic daily reported on Friday.
In an interview with Al Bayan, Humaid Al Qatami, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority confirmed that two of the specialized testing centres will be drive-through facilities, while the third one will be a high-tech Covid-19 testing laboratory. The two drive-through centres will be located in Al Khawaneej and Port Rashid, while the testing laboratory will be located in Al Nasr Club. Al Qatami said that the Covid-19 testing laboratory will provide safe and quick testing to ensure safety of the service provider as well as the patients.
7- It is safe to breastfeed even if you have coronavirus
An awareness campaign has been launched by the Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO) aimed at hospitals, health care providers and mothers, which advises them to continue breastfeeding even if mothers have contracted the coronavirus (Covid-19). "According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as other organisations such as the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the International Lactation Consultant Association, limited studies on breastfeeding women with Covid-19 and other coronavirus infections have not detected the virus in breast milk," said Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, executive director of SCFO. "The pandemic's outbreak has sparked the spreading of a lot of misinformation that can jeopardise people's safety and wellbeing. Keeping in mind how crucial breastfeeding is to a baby's health and development, the SCFO has launched this awareness campaign to provide mothers as well as healthcare providers with the latest and most credible information regarding breastfeeding, breastmilk, and the health and safety of mothers and their babies," she added.