UAE registers 100,000 Covid-19 recoveries

Dubai - The country also reported the highest number of Covid-19 infections on a single day with two deaths.

The UAE has crossed the 100,000-milestone in total number of recovered cases in the country while marking a 15 per cent increase in recovery rate in just one week, health authorities announced on Tuesday.
The country also reported the highest number of Covid-19 infections on a single day with two deaths.
Health authorities declared 1,315 new cCoronavirus cases on Tuesday out of the 96,989 new tests conducted. The virus also claimed two lives, bringing total deaths to 448.
Dr Omar Al Hammad, spokesperson of the UAE Ggovernment, said the UAE has achieved a 15 per cent increase in recoveries and a 46 per cent decrease in mortality compared to last week.
The UAE's aggressive testing policy, coupled with its advanced healthcare infrastructure, is credited with the low infection rates in the country.
"Between October 7 and 13, about 800,000 tests were conducted nationwide, marking a 9 per cent increase over the previous week leaving the positive cases at a rate of 1 per cent," said Al Hammadi during a virtual press briefing.
The official said one per cent is the lowest rate compared to the other regions like the European Union (EU) 7.3 per cent, the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) 6.6 per cent, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries at 6.3 per cent.
"The total number of deaths for this week reached 13, down from last week by 46 per cent, and the death rate became 0.4 per cent, which is one of the lowest rates in the world," he said. This is in comparison to the death rate in EU that stands at 4.4 per cent, Mena region at 2.4 per cent and OECD countries at 3.7 per cent.
Al Hammadi also threw light on the mental health toll caused by the pandemic "creating a new psychological situation for individuals in society due to the rules of social distancing and home isolation".
"Studies say that long-term poor mental health not only makes us vulnerable to viruses and diseases, but may also reduce the production of immune systems even when vaccinated against these diseases," said the official.
Chronic psychological conditions can increase cortisol levels, that can impact the functioning of the immune system.
"If stress continues for longer, we may be at risk of heart disease, stomach ulcers, tumours and psoriasis, and our mental health may deteriorate."
Al Hammadi said it is important to protect our mental health, and the most important way to do is to "avoid false news and rumours that may increase terror and panic in society".
"People suffering mental illnesses such as depression and insomnia must be protected so that their effects do not increase with the pandemic. So also, is the elderly and those with chronic diseases.
"We have to spend time with our children and talk to them honestly about the pandemic in order to listen to their concerns and address them appropriately," he said.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com