Coronavirus bulletin: Field hospital opens in Dubai; 412 new cases in UAE; Sheikh Khalid reviews sterilisation programme

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know:
UAE announces 412 new cases of Covid-19, 81 recoveries

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday, April 14 announced 412 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, taking the total number of cases in the country to 4,933. MoHAP also announced 81 new recoveries, taking the total number of recoveries to 933 as of April 14. The authority condoled the deaths of 3 expats, who tested positive or Covid-19 and died due to complications. The death toll stands at 28 as of April 14. To detect cases early, the UAE has opened 14 drive-through testing facilities that can screen hundreds of people daily without them having any direct contact with healthcare workers. The health authorities said up to 7,100 people can be tested every day with the new drive-through testing facilities established across the country
Help pours in for Filipino in UAE who mourned wife's death in video call
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Filipinos in Dubai have come together to help their kababayan (fellow compatriot) who has had to grieve and mourn the death of his wife - in front of a smartphone screen. Arnold Salvador, a 26-year-old storekeeper who lives in Muraqqabat, Dubai, promised his 25-year-old sick wife Raselleda that he would be home soon despite the situation arising out of the Covid-19 crisis. Three days later, she died of brain aneurysm. Budget flights to Manila were suspended and travel restrictions were in place, so all Arnold could do was weep while on a video-call with his kids, looking at his wife in a coffin."The last time I spoke to her on March 21, she was asking me to come home, telling me she needed me. I told her I was just trying to borrow money to buy a plane ticket," he told Khaleej Times.
Dubai Convention Centre turns into massive field hospital
The Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre has been converted into a massive field hospital with a capacity to treat 3,000 Covid-19 patients. Scores of nurses and other medical staff are all set to deal with any influx of patients. As the UAE is witnessing a surge in infections, Dubai's health officials have said that the emirate is ready to deal with any emergency situation. Humaid Al Qutami, director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, told a televised news conference last week that Dubai will set up two field hospitals. "We will have more than two field hospitals ready in Dubai in the coming days to be ready for any situation." Al Qutami said the hospitals could offer 4,000-5,000 beds.
No registration fees for commercial vehicles in Abu Dhabi

Commercial vehicles in Abu Dhabi have been exempted from paying registration fee until the end of the year, police have announced. "In line with #AbuDhabi's Economic Stimulus package, registering commercial vehicles is free of charge until end of 2020. @ADPoliceHQ in cooperation with its strategic partners will apply the decision retroactively to completed registrations after March 16, 2020 and grant refunds," Abu Dhabi Police said on Twitter. Police said the exemption on registration fees for commercial vehicles is applicable from March 16, 2020 until the end of the year.
16-year-old Emirati student donates Dh15,000 savings to fight Covid-19

A 16-year-old Emirati student, who donated his Dh15,000 savings, is among hundreds of residents and businessmen who have contributed to the "Together We Are Good" programme to support Abu Dhabi government in the fight against Covid-19. Abdullah Al Jahmani from Al Ain had saved the cash for a year and it was meant to start a small project. But the government's call for support from the public in the fight against the pandemic and the encouragement from his parents made him donate his only savings to this humanitarian cause. "This is a challenging situation for everyone. Our leaders said that this is the time for all community members to show the strength of our solidarity and unity through supporting the government efforts in the fight against Covid-19," Al Jahmani said in interview on a local television.
Dubai announces restriction on movement of labour to other emirates

The Dubai Municipality on Tuesday issued a circular restricting the movement of workers to other emirates. "In compliance with Dubai Municipality's ongoing goal towards the public health and safety of all sectors of the community, especially in the current climate that requires the social cooperation and adherence to the preemptive medical guidelines issued from the official public health authorities, measures must be taken," the municipality said."The transport of labor workers to areas outside of Dubai will be prohibited, as movement will be restricted to the boundaries of the emirate, the purpose of which is to restrict the outside entry of workers not residing in Dubai, and to be implemented to date," the circular added.
160,000 students in UAE write a trial online test

More than 160,000 students from Grades 5 to 12 in UAE public schools have attended an online trial test in Mathematics to assess the electronic examination system for the remote learning initiative. The Ministry of Education said the trial test, which is in two phases with each segment taking 30 minutes, is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the online testing system as part of remote learning. The test involved 10 multiple choice questions and students could first solve the mathematical problems on an external paper before choosing the correct answer.
Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed reviews Abu Dhabi Police's National Sterilisation Programme work

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, has assessed the progress of Abu Dhabi Police's Operations Department and Incident Command work in the national sterilisation programme to combat the spread of coronavirus in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Sheikh Khalid had a phone call from officers on Tuesday and was briefed about Abu Dhabi Police's operations on the ground and their work to facilitate the efforts of those participating in the programme. He commended the great efforts of all teams within Abu Dhabi Police, and assured the police officers: "You and your brothers working in the healthcare sector are our frontlines of defence."
Indian consulate in Dubai partially resumes passport services
The Indian Consulate in Dubai has issued an advisory on partially resuming the passport services for Indian applicants through BLS Sharjah Centre from April 15 onwards. The advisory from the consulate says that the applications for renewal of passports that have expired or would expire on or before April 30, 2020 will be processed initially. The Consulate General in Dubai also listed the ways in which people can apply for the renewal of passports. Those people who want to apply for renewal can send an email to the consulate at the email address passport.dubai@mea.gov.in with an explanation of the emergency for the renewal.
10,000 parents apply for GEMS relief package

With two days left to avail of the Gems relief package, 10,000 applications have already been sent to the group by parents. Earlier, a petition calling on GEMS Education to cut school fees for the third term had gathered over 13,000 signatures. Responding to parental concerns, the group had then offered a relief package, which may now be extended beyond the deadline. In a recent statement GEMS mentioned: "Parents can still apply retrospectively should their situations change beyond this date." With parents pushing for complete waivers of the Term 3 tuition fees, GEMS schools are presently looking to offer limited discounts or special payment plans to parents, who can prove they have been financially hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Philippine mission in Dubai to help expats keen to go home

For Filipino expats who were placed on leave but wished to go home amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philippine mission can help coordinate with employers, which must book their plane tickets. Marford Angeles, Consul-General and Deputy Head of Mission at the Philippine Embassy, told Khaleej Times: "The Philippine Overseas Labour Offices (Polo) in the UAE should be able to talk to (the expats') employers and emphasise upon them their responsibility to their employees." Under the 'Early Leave' scheme recently issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), companies must book roundtrip tickets for foreign workers who availed of the leave and were willing to return to their home countries during the pandemic.
Psychological impact of Covid-19 on children and how to overcome it

Worried about your child's mental health during these stressful times? Several UAE parents have said they are experiencing some struggles keeping their little ones indoors and occupied. However, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has released an infographic that advises parents on signs of stress they need to look out for in their kids, as not all children respond to stress in the same way. DHA has said children interact with what they see and hear about the pandemic from adults around them, especially parents and healthcare providers. Hence, parents and other caregivers must monitor their child for the following behavioural changes.
Police use helicopter to deliver Covid-19 message
The police in Ras Al Khamiah have come up with a unique method to spread awareness about Covid-19 among residents in the emirate. A helicopter from Ras Al Khaimah Police has been hovering around the Emirates spreading the 'Stay Home' message. They are asking residents to heed all precautionary measures implemented by the authorities to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Healthpoint expands drive-thru Covid-19 testing facility in Abu Dhabi

In a bid to facilitate safer, quicker screening of suspected Covid-19 cases in Abu Dhabi, Mubadala Healthcare provider Healthpoint has expanded its onsite drive-thru testing centre to screen up to 375 individuals per day. To ensure a seamless and efficient process, Healthpoint initiated screening for its own employees and their families on March 20, before extending it to the general public at the centre which was opened in March 2020. It is now adding lanes to accommodate more cars. Senior Vice-President of Mubadala Healthcare, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, said: "The Healthpoint drive-thru centre and the screening tent erected outside Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi are initiatives Mubadala Healthcare implemented to support the government in containing Covid-19 by identifying and isolating positive cases in the most efficient and low-risk way possible.

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai

Ismail Sebugwaawo

ismail@khaleejtimes.com