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Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: Field hospital opened in Dubai; free parking extended; 227 stranded Pakistanis fly home
A round-up of major developments related to Covid-19 across the country.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has sounded a clarion call to the international community to fight the war against Covid-19 as one team and win this 'world cup' at any cost. He tweeted out an inspiring video about the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, making comparisons to sport with a montage of the frontliners. "The whole world is playing from one side. We are one team. This is our home ground, this is our World Cup and we will win," says the narrator (radio presenter Kris Fade) in the video, shared by Sheikh Mohammed in a tweet and with a powerful three-word message: We Will Win.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has opened a field hospital at the Dubai World Trade Centre. A series of photos shared on social media by the Government of Dubai Media Office on Saturday show Sheikh Hamdan adhering to precautions like wearing a mask and gloves as he tours the field hospital. He is also seen interacting with the medics at the facility as he maintains an adequate social distance from them. As reported by Khaleej Times last week, the Dubai World Trade Centre has been converted into a massive field hospital with a capacity to treat over 3,000 Covid-19 patients.The trade centre has the critical facilities and size needed for the proper functioning of a large hospital, the media office had said last week.
A total of 8,000 volunteers from across the UAE have been recruited to help the government in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, authorities have announced. The volunteers of 115 nationalities are taking part in the national campaign "UAE Volunteers", working both in healthcare and medical support services. These people who have stepped up to offer their services include doctors, nurses, retired psychiatrists, paramedics, university students and many others.Hessah Tahlak, official spokesperson for the "UAE Volunteers" campaign, said in virtual press briefing on Saturday that volunteering is gaining traction in the UAE as part of the country's culture.
The repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in the UAE began as the first special flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flew 227 people back to Islamabad on Saturday evening. "First PIA flight carrying 227 stranded passengers from Dubai and the Northern Emirates left for Islamabad today at 1900 hours," the consulate said in a statement on its twitter account. The Pakistan Consulate Dubai also clarified reports on social media saying there are "no special flights" scheduled on Sunday. "Please wait for our call. We have data of those who have registered with us," said the consulate. On April 14, two flydubai planes ran special flights but they were limited to Pakistani prisoners. The flights were arranged by the UAE government to repatriate 400 prisoners who were serving their terms in the UAE jails for minor offences.
Free parking facility extended in Dubai
The free parking facility in Dubai has been extended until April 25, 2020. According to a message from the RTA, the extension is until 11:59pm on April 25. The decision is in line with the extension of the 24-hour National Sterilisation Programme in Dubai. Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that the round-the-clock sterilisation programme in the emirate will be extended for an additional week. The extension follows the positive impact of the two-week sterilisation operations and intensified restrictions on movement aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, Covid-19.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE is trying to provide alternative places where expats at shared accommodations can move to if they test positive for Covid-19, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor said on Friday. "We are trying to work with the Department of Health to see how we can create some facilities to help Indians who are living in clusters move out if any of them is found positive (for Covid-19), so that the spread of the disease is controlled," Kapoor said. The embassy has been taking care of expats who do not have access to food and medicines amid the pandemic situation.
Community leaders donate Dh3 million to government's Covid-19 efforts
Community leaders, senior officials and businessmen have contributed Dh3 million to the 'Together We Are Good' programme launched by the Authority of Social Contribution - Ma'an. Through the initiative, residents can support the Abu Dhabi Government's efforts to address the current health and economic challenges arising from the Covid-19 outbreak. Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE's former Minister of State for Tolerance, and businessman Khalil Mohamed Foulathi, contributed Dh1 million each. Mubarak Rashed Al Mansoori, governor of the UAE Central Bank, and Rashed Khamis Al Mansoori donated Dh500,000 each.
Dh20,000 fine for circulating fake health news in UAE
Publishing or circulating fake and misleading health information is now punishable with a Dh20,000 fine, the UAE Government announced on Saturday. The UAE Cabinet has adopted a decision, strictly prohibiting the circulation of unapproved health information. "It is strictly prohibited for anyone to publish, re-publish, or circulate false, misleading, misrepresented, unofficially published or unapproved health information or guidelines by the Ministry (of Health and Prevention) or the health regulators . using any media, social media or method of publication or circulation," the UAE government tweeted. Contradicting what has been announced by the health authorities is also a violation, according to the Cabinet decision.
As the UAE residents adhere to the country's directive to #StayHome to stop the spread of Covid-19, their consumption of digital content has increased. Now, a new survey has revealed that majority of the residents will spend more time following the latest news updates than on social media, texting and video games. According to the survey by McKinsey & Co., 65 per cent of respondents will allocate more time to reading news online. About 63 per cent of the same set of respondents said they will increase the time they spend on social media. Video content consumption got the vote from 61 per cent residents. About 7 per cent of the residents, however, said they will cut down on their consumption of the three categories - reading news online, surfing social media and watching video content.
In yet another act of kindness shown by the Dubai Police- a big Thank you went out to the men in green, as Stephanie Hamilton, an expat mother with a with child of determination conveyed her gratefulness for "their amazing care and attitude" in a Facebook post. Hamilton in her post explained that her husband had applied for an emergency movement permit for their daughter who has a down syndrome and is autistic. The parents were apparently seeking permission wanting to take their daughter, Ruby, out on a bike ride to pacify her, which would have otherwise made her extremely unhappy. But it's said their permit was rejected initially, as they later discovered it was applied under a wrong category.
Air India, the flag carrier airline of India, on Saturday announced extension on cancellation of services till May 31. With the latest development, hopes of immediate repatriation for expats in UAE remain uncertain. On April 14, Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi had extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3 and it was believed that flight service will resume from that time. However, Air India noted that in the light of the 'ongoing global health concerns', the airline is stopping all booking for all international services till May 31.
60% drop in Ras Al Khaimah air pollutants
There has been a 60 per cent decline in air pollutants over the last weeks in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah due to the ongoing measures to check the rapid march of Covid-19 pandemic. "Air quality has significantly improved as per the readings of the air monitoring stations deployed across the emirate," revealed Dr Saif Al Ghais, director-general, Environment Protection and Development Authority, RAK. "Air pollutants have dropped by 40-60 per cent and better air quality is expected in the coming days," he pointed out. He said that the drop can be attributed to the restricted traffic movement, and reduced activities, especially in the industrial sector.
While #StayHome is important to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can 'compound' the percentage of vitamin D deficient population in the UAE, which as per 2017 study by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is around 90 per cent. However, medical experts have solutions to offer so that the community after fighting coronavirus doesn't fall ill for other health problems linked to vitamin D like osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, depression, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer and weight gain. Dr Hanan Sheikh Ibrahim, staff physician, primary care - internal medicine, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, underlined that fat-soluble vitamin plays an important part in protecting against multiple health issues.
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