Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: Sheikh Mohammed's big bonus announcement; recoveries rise on Sunday; senior couple recovers; jobless Filipina feeds people for free

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know:
UAE reports 304 new Covid-19 cases, 701 recoveries, 1 death
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Sunday announced 304 new cases of Covid-19 infections and 701 cases of recovery. The ministry also announced one death. More than 43,000 new Covid-19 tests have also been carried out, the health ministry added. The ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished current Covid-19 patients a speedy and full recovery. The UAE's rigorous and mass testing exercise coupled with intense treatment is finally showing positive results. The number of new infections has seen a remarkable decline recently. The number of new cases announced today is the least in over two months, since April 8, 2020, when 300 fresh infections were reported.
Sheikh Mohammed announces bonus for staff in vital sectors
The UAE government has approved a new system to issue bonuses to workers in emergency sectors, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced. The remuneration will be limited to medical staff at the Ministry of Health and Prevention "in appreciation of the pivotal role they play in countering Covid-19". The work period of such staff under the emergency condition must exceed two months. This was among a string of decisions announced on Sunday as the UAE Cabinet met virtually. Sheikh Mohammed stressed that he was proud of the UAE community. "Both citizens and residents supported the government and showed great societal awareness in adhering to the precautionary instructions against the spread of Covid-19. This guarantees that the UAE will achieve the best recovery once the Covid-19 crisis is over," he said.
UAE's steady fall in active cases, and rise in recovery raise hope
Covid-19 recovery rates in the UAE have been increasing steadily, leading to a significant drop in the number of active cases. On Saturday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country fell to 14,941, slipping below the 15,000-mark for the first time since May 27, 2020. The country has seen an 11 per cent decrease in the number of active cases as compared to a week ago (16,932). The recovery rate of infected patients has been steadily increasing too, reaching 64 per cent on Saturday as compared with the global average of 46 per cent. Recoveries have doubled in the past three weeks in the country, sparking hope of an early recovery from the pandemic. The UAE saw single-day recoveries of over 700 on most days last week, with June 11 recording 1,217. On Saturday, 815 patients recovered.
Husband, wife die of coronavirus in Dubai three days apart
Long-time UAE residents and Pakistani couple Amad-ud-Din and his wife Nasreen passed away last week within a gap of three days after being admitted to the hospital for 29 days after they contracted the Covid-19 coronavirus. Known for their charity and welcoming their community members with open arms and hearts, the couple's love and respect for each other was well-known among family and friends. The two were married for 40 years and were caring parents of eight children - two sons and six daughters. Hailing from the Dir District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, Amad had been working for a real estate company in the UAE since he landed in 1977. "My father and mother were very caring and loving. Their love for each other was well-known in our family and friend circles. My mother was admitted just three days after my father in a local hospital. After my father passed away, my mom also departed for her heavenly abode three days later.
89-yr-old man, 72-yr-old wife recover from coronavirus in UAE
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) on Sunday announced the full recovery of an 89-year-old coronavirus patient and his 72-year-old wife after receiving necessary treatment at Al Kuwait Hospital in Dubai. The husband, who was suffering from pre-existing conditions including diabetes, blood pressure and cardiomyopathy, and his wife were both tested twice and the results were negative in the two tests, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Thanks to the UAE's effective healthcare system and the excellent healthcare provided to senior citizens, coupled with the commitment to the global best medical practices, the two patients are now free of any Covid-19 symptoms, the ministry affirmed.
Dubai school surprises students with hand-delivered graduation certificates, gifts
Can you imagine how happy graduating students would have been if each of them received a parting gift hand-delivered by their school's heads?  Bringing a pleasant surprise to their pupils over the last week, two senior leaders at The English College had been driving across Dubai - going house to house to visit their 62 graduating Year 13 students. With each stop, the school heads deliver sanitised gift bags containing face masks, water flasks, and a very special 'Graduation 2020' certificates, partially illustrated by Dubai-based artist Hatty Pedder. The UK school's head of senior, Osman Idris, and deputy head of senior, Mike Edmonds, said they simply wanted to bring lift the spirits of their students. "We wanted to make sure that our graduates, who are experiencing a very unusual situation this year, do feel that we absolutely value them and miss them a lot, as we have not seen them physically since March when the distance learning commenced," said Edmonds.
 
Mass testing for Covid-19 kicks off in Al Ain's industrial areas
Abu Dhabi authorities on Sunday started disinfection and mass testing for Covid-19 in Al Ain's industrial areas to stymie the spread of coronavirus. Commercial daily activities in the zone will continue as usual during the sanitisation and screening programme, which is being implemented by the Department of Health (DoH) Abu Dhabi in coordination with relevant entities. "Entry and exit will be restricted while the area is being sanitised," said officials. "No legal action will be taken against those violating visa regulations. Protecting the community's safety and curbing the spread of coronavirus is the top priority." Residents living in the area have been urgaed to cooperate and follow instructions so that the programme achieves its objectives. Authorities have been offering intensive awareness programmes about anti-Covid measures in various languages.
 
Ajman Tourism launches extensive inspection campaign to protect visitors from coronavirus
Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) has launched an extensive inspection campaign across the emirate's tourist establishments to ensure compliance with safety guidelines, in line with the strengthening of precautionary measures taken by the UAE and in response to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation. The inspection campaign includes daily and continuous visits to the tourist establishments in the emirate to assure their commitment to following ATDD precautionary guidelines that were recently launched to combat the spread of coronavirus by applying a series of preventive measures related to maintaining the highest hygiene levels, periodic sterilisation, training staff to handle suspected coronavirus cases. The measures also included food serving requirements and salons bookings guidelines.
 
382 Filipinos in UAE to fly home on first chartered flight
Some 382 Filipinos in the UAE are set to flew home last midnight on the first chartered flight sponsored by the Philippine government, a top envoy said. The passengers are booked for a Cebu Pacific flight to Manila, departing from Dubai International Airport's Terminal 2 at 12.10am on Monday, June 15, according to Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes. "The 382 (people) will be composed of passengers from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with about 80 per cent from Dubai," Cortes said. Many of the passengers are visit-visa-holders who have been stranded in the country, while others are expats who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.  Some pregnant women will also be on the flight.
 
How this unemployed Filipina feeds hundreds of jobless expats in UAE
If you're looking for a hero without a cape, head down to the Patchi building in Dubai's Muraqqabat neighbourhood. There, in the sweltering heat, Filipino expat Feby Cacher Baguisa-Dela Peña has been feeding hundreds of jobless residents since the beginning of Eid Al Fitr this year - despite being unemployed herself. She took on the initiative after seeing people, made redundant due to the pandemic, line up across the street for free iftar meals. "The thing is they were just getting a coupon that they needed to redeem at various restaurants. I said to myself: why not give them an instant meal? That's what made me decided to do something." Though unemployed since 2017, the mum-of-three has been making a living by cooking Filipino food and selling them to her "fellow kabayans". Her initial plan was to cook for the first three days of Eid, but when she saw how many people kept turning up, she knew she couldn't stop.

Sharjah government employees can take leave with full pay to volunteer in essential sectors
Government employees of Sharjah can now apply for special leave and also receive full pay if they are volunteering to support the essential sectors during crises. The directive was approved by the Sharjah Executive Council chaired by Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. "The need for support becomes an urgent necessity during crises. In this connection, the Sharjah Volunteering Committee presented a legislative proposal to support volunteers and organisations that may like to volunteer, especially in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic," said Afaf Al Marri, head of the Social Services Department in Sharjah. She called for expanding volunteering opportunities by including virtual volunteering along with field volunteering, general volunteering, and specialist volunteering to counter the Covid-19 epidemic in the country.
 
Dubai government staff 'happy to be back' as offices return to 100% capacity
Thousands of Dubai government employees headed back to work on Sunday as their offices returned to 100 per cent capacity. On Sunday morning was a bit hazy with the police issuing fog warnings on message display boards. And motorists seemed to be exercising caution as many made their way to their workplaces for the first time in almost three months. Offices of the Dubai government reopened in phases, from 30 per cent to 50 per cent on May 31, and finally welcoming back 100 per cent of its employees on Sunday. Khaleej Times caught up with some staff members of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, many of whom were seen rushing back to their office for an early morning meeting. Emirati Noura Yousef Al Hashmi expressed her joy on finally returning to her desk, after such a "long period" of working from home. "It feels really very good to be returning to work after nearly three months. I have been missing my office and my colleagues and I am really looking forward to seeing them," said Al Hashmi.

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai