Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: 'We will get through Covid crisis'; Sterilisation programme timings revised; New fines list issued; UAE residents can return from June

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know:
UAE reports 832 new cases, 1,065 recoveries
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Monday announced 832 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,065 recoveries. A total of 37,884 new tests have also been conducted, the ministry added, while reporting four new deaths from the infection. The UAE has so far conducted over 1.5 million coronavirus tests, and is steadily ramping up the testing facilities in the country to keep the public safe. In another step in this direction, the Abu Dhabi municipality has announced that security guards at commercial and residential buildings in the emirate have been told to report visitors and residents of the premises who show symptoms of coronavirus.
 
We will get through this crisis: Sheikh Mohamed inspects Abu Dhabi field hospital
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday inspected the Emirates Field Hospital for Covid-19 patients in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. The facility has a capacity for 1,200 beds and is being run by 46 doctors and medics and 155 nurses. Sheikh Mohamed was briefed on the medical provisions in place as part of the UAE's precautionary measures against COVID-19 and said, "We will get through this crisis, together with our front-line's relentless efforts and determination. "It is centrally important for our people and residents to comply with the preventive measures so that we can see the number of infections getting down. I am positive that they understand this and will comply," he added.
 
National Sterilisation Programme timings changed in UAE
The new timings will be applicable from Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The timings are to remain this way until any further announcement from the authorities. At the virtual media briefing on Monday, it was also announced that a number of sales outlets, which include meat and vegetable shops, fruits, toasters, mills, slaughterhouses, fish, coffee and tea, in addition to shops selling nuts, sweets and chocolate, will be operate from 6am until 8pm. All outlets that are authorised to operate should implement health and safety measures like 30 per cent of the capacity of shoppers, and maintain distance of 2 metres at least between customers, the ministry added. Shopping timings for each shopper will be limited to two hours. Shopping centres will operate from 9am to 7pm starting Ramadan 27, and adults above the age of 60 and children below 12 will not be allowed inside malls.
 
New fines announced for violators in UAE
The UAE Attorney General has issued a resolution with regards to the fines to be issued for violations in the country. This is due to the noticing of reckless and irresponsible behaviour from community members, with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic. The precautionary measures issued by the state were not adhered to. Attorney General has revised the fines and made them more stringent. The information regarding the fines has been communicated on the UAE Government Communication Office official Twitter account. For those who fail to implement the home quarantine and take the tests will be fined Dh50,000 and those who refuse to download the smart app or carry smart phones will pay fine of Dh10,000 fine.
 
Sheikh Abdullah says UAE's strong will can lead to greater achievements post-Covid-19
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, says the UAE will survive the current coronavirus crisis with "strong will and determination" to lead the country to "greater successes and achievements". Sheikh Abdullah was speaking during a virtual meeting hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's Youth Council on Monday. Titled "Every Success has a Story: Effective Diplomacy", the session was moderated by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Khalid Belhoul Al Falasi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
 
Sheikh Mohamed, Macron review regional developments, Covid-19
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday enjoyed a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the prestigious strategic relations binding the two friendly nations in various political, economic and cultural fields. The two leaders exchanged views over the latest developments in the Middle East, Gulf Region and the Mediterranean Sea, underscoring the importance of joint action to protect regional stability through political solutions and settlements to the region's crises in a way that ultimately achieves the ambitions of their peoples for stability, peace and coexistence.
 
UAE residents stranded overseas can return from June 1
UAE residents stranded outside the country away from family members can return from June 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship have confirmed. On March 19, the UAE suspended entry of valid residence visa holders who are still abroad over coronavirus concerns.
 
Disinfect your mobile phones to curb Covid-19 infection
A top Dubai cop has urged people to disinfect their phones to avoid the risk of getting infected with coronavirus. "There are hundreds and hundreds of microbes on your mobile phone. You could be carrying the enemy with you without knowing it," Major Dr Rashid Al Ghafri, director of Training and Development at the General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology at Dubai Police, told Khaleej Times. Al Ghafri was part of a research collaboration between the Dubai Police and Bonn And Murdoch University in Australia that found that microphones could be a pathway in transmitting microbes, including coronavirus. "We took 24 mobile phones as samples and our research found infectious pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses like Covid-19, on them. And when you touch the phone and touch your face again with the same hands, you are at risk of getting infected."
Federal govt staff to get May salaries as scheduled: UAE ministry
The UAE's Ministry of Finance on Monday said there is no change in the releasing of salaries of the federal government employees for the month of May and they will be delivered as per schedule. The ministry has unified federal government employees' salary date, setting it to the 30th of each month, starting from March 2019. All relevant authorities will have to transfer the salaries on the 29th of each month, said the statement. The ministry said it would roll out federal government employees' salaries for May as per the scheduled date. "The Ministry of Finance indicated that there will be no changes to the said date - except in the case of government directives to do so. The ministry also indicated that it is working tirelessly during the work-from-home period with the same efficiency. The ministry's advanced digital infrastructure ensures that its performance does not impact financial operations," it said in a statement to Khaleej Times.
 
22 more flights to take Pakistanis in UAE back home
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development has released the next 10-day flight schedule to repatriate Pakistanis stranded abroad in different countries. Out of the total 47 flights scheduled between May 22 to May 31, around 22 special repatriation flights will be operated from the UAE to different cities of the South Asian country. During the next 10 days of repatriation, Pakistan International Airlines will operate 20 flights while the UAE carriers will operate two flights, repatriating thousands of stranded Pakistanis from the UAE. In total, more than 10,000 Pakistanis will be repatriated during May 22 to 31 schedule and around 5,000 of them will be flown back from the UAE.
 
App that can identify severe Covid-19 risks being developed at UAE varsity
A mobile app that can determine a Covid-19 patient's risk of developing serious complications is among the new projects of researchers at the Khalifa University (KU) in Abu Dhabi. Based on the researchers' plan, the app should be able to collect and process data from the smartphones of Covid-19 patients and identify whether they are at high risk of getting severe medical complications from the virus. The new project was announced on Monday as the Khalifa University of Science and Technology introduced its Covid-19 Research and Development (R&D) Task Force, established as part of the institution's efforts to help curb the spread of the virus and create solutions that will bolster the world's ability to deal with future pandemics. Under its Covid-19 R&D programme, KU has launched a total of 14 research projects: five of them focus on epidemiology; six on diagnostics and medical devices; and three on digital tools for understanding, mitigating, and providing resiliency against an outbreak.
 
Remaining CBSE class X, XII board exams to be held from July 1 to 15
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the dates for the remaining exams for Class 10 and 12. The exams will be held from July 1 to July 15, the authority said. However, this would not affect overseas students as the exams will only be held in India. Meanwhile, candidates have been asked to carry sanitisers to the examination hall in a transparent bottle. Students should cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth. The board has also asked parents to guide their children about precautions to be taken to avoid spread of Covid-19. These board examinations were earlier put off due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Initially, the exams were also indefinitely delayed in the UAE as well. But on April 1, the CBSE clarified that it would go ahead with the exams only in India and schools abroad will not be affected by the new schedule.
 
Tributes pour in for Fr Youssef who passed away from Covid-19 in UAE
The assistant parish priest of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Sharjah for the Arabic speaking community passed away on Sunday evening at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Ajman due to multiple complications arising from Covid-19, the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (AVOSA) posted on its website. Father Youssef Sami Youssef, 62, was under treatment for almost three weeks at the multi-speciality hospital and received expert care, ventilation and stem cell therapy. However since he already had some underlying medical conditions, he soon started to develop critical multiple organ failures. Father Youssef has been a missionary in the region since 1993, serving the Arabic and French speaking communities at St. Mary's Church Dubai (1993-1995), Our Lady of the Rosary Church Doha (2004-2008), Sacred Heart Church, Manama (2008-2011), St. Joseph's Cathedral Abu Dhabi (2011-2015), Holy Spirit Church, Ghala and St. Mary's Church Al Ain (2016). He was stationed at St. Michael's Church, Sharjah since 2016.

Ismail Sebugwaawo

ismail@khaleejtimes.com