Due to the recent holidays to mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, students received extended leave, including for the heat alert
The UAE is a hub of humanity and millions of tourists and friends/family members visit the country every month. Chances of the fast-spreading Wuhan 2019-nCoV coronavirus visiting our shores, therefore, were always high. The fears have, unfortunately, come true. The country's ports were on full alert even before these cases were detected, and the situation now requires everyone to be more aware and vigilant. Now that the virus has reached our shores, we must all follow the best of hygiene standards. It is not a drill. It may seem like being overcautious, but using surgical masks of the right rating (N95) when venturing in public spaces won't hurt, as won't using a good quality of hand sanitiser liberally.
'Can we panic now?' That's what the 12-year-old Ron Weasley, who suffers from arachnophobia (intense fear of spiders), asks his friends Harry and Hermione when confronted by Aragog (a giant spider), who's ready to have the trio for dinner. If that's something that's playing on your mind as a parent, spouse or sibling, then rest assured. The UAE's health ministry has been updating the situation with healthy regularity and has categorically maintained that there is no cause for concern.
And while precaution is, obviously, better than cure, do remember that more than 100 of those infected have fully recovered from the virus. In the end, let's remember that while it is time to be careful and cautious, we need to get on with our lives and not overthink it. As Professor Dumbledore says in 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban', "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."
Due to the recent holidays to mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, students received extended leave, including for the heat alert
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