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Thu, Dec 12, 2024 | Jumada al-Aakhirah 11, 1446 | DXB
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Coronavirus bulletin from UAE: 541 new cases announced; over 1,122,000 tests conducted; Dubai could reopen its tourism door in July
A round-up of major developments related to Covid-19 across the country.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday announced 541 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The ministry also announced 91 cases of recovery and seven deaths. With this, the total number of cases in the country now stand at 11,380, while total recoveries stand at 2,181. There have been a total of 89 deaths because of the infection. More than 25,000 new coronavirus tests have been conducted across the country, the ministry said. Dubai had on Sunday eased the 24-hour movement restrictions in Naif and Al Ras areas after no new cases were recorded in the densely populated areas in two days. More than 6,000 tests were conducted among residents in the areas in less than a month.
The global fight against the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, is entering a new phase, as countries are increasing their understanding of the disease and are becoming more ready to tackle the pandemic, with the UAE a world leader in this respect. The World Health Organisation, WHO, and international medical bodies are highlighting the impact of increasing the numbers of tests conducted to determine the efficiency of every country's containment policy. Since the start of the crisis, the UAE has believed in the importance of mass testing and the country's level of testing relative to the population is higher than the international level. The UAE has conducted over 1,122,000 tests in hospitals and health centres and established 14 drive-through testing centres. It has also conducted home testing for people of determination.
Ahead of the reopening of shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, as many as 20,000 employees have undergone Covid-19 testing, officials said on Tuesday. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) operated seven Covid-19 drive-thru testing centres round the clock to ensure none of the staff is infected as they return to work. Seha has also increased employee awareness about the virus, its symptoms and how to follow recommended precautionary measures. Such steps are in line with the mall reopening requirements set by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). In a directive issued on Monday, the department said all workers at commercial and industrial facilities in the Capital must get tested for Covid-19. All staff members must secure a certificate of negative results before they resume work and prior to the stores' reopening.
With three Indian naval war ships and 500 aircraft on standby, the India government has given clear indication that it is all set to undertake in what could be the biggest repatriation operation of stranded Indian diaspora from the Gulf countries amid the coronavirus crisis. As the clamour for repatriation is rising from hundreds of thousands of Indians in the virus-hit Gulf countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that blue collar workers, who are hard hit by the global pandemic, will get the first seats in special repatriation flights. Students stranded in foreign countries will be next and then Indians who were travelling for work. "
Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group (DGJG), the trade body for the gold and diamond jewellery sector in Dubai, has announced the re-opening of the iconic Dubai Gold Souk in Deira, in accordance with the directives by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. From Sunday, April 26, the souk's retailers began operating at reduced trading hours, with retail stores to operate from 11am to 9pm and wholesale offices to work from 10am to 5pm. Prior to the reopening, Dubai's Al RasNaif, Deira Gold Souk and individual stores have completed an extensive sterilisation programme with stringent guidelines and to ensure the Dubai Department of Economic Development's retail protocols within strict health and safety guidelines.
When it was seen that several workers were hit by the situations arising from the Covid-19, dozens of UAE government entities promptly stepped up and came to their aid - providing them with all the support and essentials they needed. The public can be assured that in the UAE, workers' rights are protected at all costs, Dr Amna Al Shamsi of the Ministry of Health and Prevention said in a recent briefing. Awareness lectures and workshops were held for them in their own languages so that they can be educated on how they can protect themselves from the coronavirus. Leaflets were also distributed and educational films were shown to explain health procedures and precautionary measures, stressing on the importance of hygiene and sanitation.
With around 2.4 million blue-collar workers currently living in the UAE, the country is making sure that - in its battle against Covid-19 - these unsung heroes are not left behind. Apart from government entities that have put measures in place to shield workers from the virus and its economic impact, charities, NGOs and companies have also come forward to offer them relief amid such an unprecedented situation. Among them is Dubai-based NGO, SmartLife, which provides training and assistance to thousands of workers. Recently, it launched a helpline for blue-collar workers to help them deal with issues they may be experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Indian missions in the UAE are awaiting orders from New Delhi to begin the online registration process of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who wish to return home amid the unprecedented situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking with Khaleej Times, Indian Consul-General to Dubai, Vipul, said the mission will facilitate an online registration process once they get the go-ahead from Delhi. "We are awaiting final clarifications from Delhi on this issue." This comes as millions of Indian expats across the world await their home country's decision on when and how to repatriate what could well be the biggest repatriation exercise in history. Indian news agency ANI on Tuesday quoted a top government official and said the government is "assessing the scenario and finding the plan to evacuate Indians from the Gulf countries. "We have asked Air India and Indian Navy for the detailed evacuation plan," ANI reported.
The UAE on Tuesday sent an aid plane containing 14 metric tonnes of medical and food supplies to Pakistan to bolster the country's efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. The aid will assist approximately 7,000 medical professionals as they work to contain the virus. Commenting on the aid delivery, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said: "As part of the bilateral cooperation that has underpinned the brotherly relations between our two countries for decades, the UAE is proud to extend assistance to Pakistan in furtherance of global solidarity in the fight against Covid-19."
The Executive Council of Umm Al Quwain on Wednesday issued a directive to reopen commercial establishments in the emirate as per the amended timing of the National Disinfection Programme. The re-opening is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the current situation that has taken into full consideration the reports raised by the executive and field departments in charge of combatting the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision allows commercial establishments, which include shopping centres, retail areas and markets, to partially re-open at a 30 per cent capacity to avoid health issues, with customers to maintain physical-distancing norms to avoid overcrowding.
The Roads and Transport Authority has announced the resumption of services on three Metro stations starting Wednesday. "To Dubai Metro users, RTA announces service resumption at Al Ras, Palm Deira, and Baniyas stations starting tomorrow morning, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, the RTA said. Passengers are requested to adhere to the safety and security measures at the stations and inside the trains, it added. The Dubai Metro resumed operations on Sunday after services were suspended on April 4 to combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Top officials from the UAE and Pakistan have discussed repatriation of Pakistani workers during a video conference. Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, discussed the evacuation of workers whose employment contracts are expired or those who want to benefit from the Early Leave initiative with Zulfikar Bukhari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis. During the video conference, Al Hamli praised the response and cooperation by the Pakistani government to streamline the return of the Pakistani nationals working in the UAE. Bukhari lauded the relentless efforts of the UAE to enforce preventive measures against Covid-19 for the workers, including the Pakistanis, while appreciating the Early Leave initiative.
Thirteen Filipinos on UAE tourist visas were flown home on Tuesday morning, taking the total number of Philippine repatriates to nearly 500 since the pandemic situation began. At least 72 more Filipinos, who are staying in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, are set to be repatriated aboard special Emirates flights on April 30 and May 3. Others who wish to fly home with the government's help may e-mail the Philippine missions' Assistance to Nationals (ATN) section at atn2.abudhabi@gmail.com and atn@pcgdubai.ae. "For those who write about repatriation, if they really want to go home, the earliest flight would be on May 6 - because April 30 and May 3 are already full," said Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes.
As many as 18 restaurants, cafeterias and food establishments have been shut down in Dubai for failing to abide by the Covid-19 coronavirus precautionary measures. The closures took place following extensive inspections by the Dubai Municipality to ensure that public safety requirements are met. Malls and restaurants in Dubai started to partially reopen earlier this week after the coronavirus restrictions were eased in the emirate. Food outlets are required to operate with reduced occupancy of 30 per cent. Also, tables must be places two metres apart.
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi will partially resume attestation services from May 1. The consular services will be rendered through IVS international from 9am to noon on all working days. A person may send an email at ivsglobalabudhabi@gmail.com to fix an appointment and help maintain social distancing at the centre. In case of emergency, a person may write to the embassy at cons.abudhabi@mea.gov.in. Those who wish to avail attestation services can go to IVS Global Services, Abu Dhabi University building, seventh floor, Sheikh Al Nahyan Camp Area, behind Paragon Hotel Apartment, Muroor Road. Additionally, it must be noted that the embassy is processing only those applications where the passports have either expired or will be expiring by May 31.
The Dubai Police have changed the settings of speeding radars across the emirate of Dubai to detect vehicle movement on the roads, in accordance with the new timings of the National Sterilisation Programme. The new timings for the programme are from 10pm to 6am in Dubai. According to report in Emarat Al Youm, Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of the General Department of Traffic in Dubai Police, said that of all of the radars on Dubai roads use Artificial Intelligence systems that automatically change according to the timings of the movement restrictions of the National Sterilisation Programme. He added that the decision to adjust radars aim to reduce the vehicle movements on Dubai roads, for the authorities to conduct the sterilisation operations smoothly.
An Indian doctor in Dubai had an 'unforgettable experience' when Dubai police stopped her car and gave a salute instead of checking her documents during curfew hours. Dr Ayesha Sultana from Hyderabad was returning home at 1:00am on Tuesday, April 28, when she was stopped by Dubai Police near the Al Mulla Plaza on the Dubai-Sharjah highway. She was driving home to Sharjah after finishing her shift at the Al Ahli Screening centre in Dubai. "I did panic a bit and I was focused on getting my work permit and other documents to prove I am a doctor. But to my surprise, the policemen refused to check my documents and instead gave me a salute and said I can go," Dr Sultana told Khaleej Times.
Transport authority in Abu Dhabi has introduced newer precautionary measures in taxis to contain spread of Covid-19 pandemic. Now taxis plying in Abu Dhabi have been equipped with debit and credit card machines to reduce the exchange of cash transactions. This is done with an aim to ensure safety and health of passengers and drivers. Recently, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) had installed plastic isolators to separate drivers from passengers. Now only two passengers are allowed at a time in the back seat. The department is also carrying out daily sterilisation of entire fleet of taxis.
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