Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: 'We will very soon recover'; Call for faith prayers; UAE helps US citizen visit her ailing father; Families exempted from car passenger limit

Here's a round-up of all the latest developments you need to know:
UAE will very soon recover: Sheikh Mohammed shares strategy for beyond Covid-19 pandemic
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday chaired a virtual cabinet meeting in which a development strategy for beyond the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic was discussed. Among the key points discussed were further strengthening of the country's food, medical and economic security, as well as improving utilisation of financial and human resources. "Preparation for the post-Covid-19 time is a preparation for a new future no one had expected a few months ago," the Dubai Ruler said in a tweet.The meeting also called upon the need to prepare an urgent plan to increase productivity and competitiveness in the medical sector in the country.
UAE helps US citizen visit her father suffering from Covid-19
Many stories have emerged that highlighted the UAE's efforts to help those who have suffered since the start of the novel coronavirus crisis. These efforts have written the UAE's history in letters of light, through its honourable work, which has brought to the rest of the world its humanitarianism in times of crises. After a US citizen published her story in foreign newspapers, the UAE responded by helping her return to the UAE, where she was reunited with her father, enabling her to care for him after he was infected with the coronavirus. The US citizen thanked the UAE for helping her return to the country, stating, "I am fortunate for the speedy response and sympathy of officials in the UAE."
 
UAE announces 564 new cases, 99 recoveries, 7 deaths
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Sunday announced 564 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The ministry also announced 99 new cases of recovery and seven deaths. As many as 26,000 new Covid-19 tests have also been conduced, the ministry added. With this, the total number of cases in the UAE stands at 14,163, total recoveries stand at 2,763, and deaths stand at 126. On Saturday, Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, head of Hematology and Oncology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said that the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre is conducting clinical trials of the UAE's breakthrough stem cell treatment. The official clarified that the breakthrough supported and did not entirely cure a patient during the treatment period. This treatment is supportive and doesn't provide entire cure. It helps patients overcome the symptoms caused by the virus but doesn't kill it.
 
180,000 lights at Burj Khalifa shine as donations pour in
Contributions poured in for the World's Tallest Donation Box, shining 180,000 lights on 18 floors of Burj Khalifa within 24 hours of the initiative's launch.The donations raised on the first day will help provide 180,000 meals for individuals and families affected by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic in the UAE, as part of the initiative that aims to illuminate Burj Khalifa's 1.2 million lights in a message of hope and solidarity to the world. Launched as part of the '10 million meals' campaign on Saturday, the World's Tallest Donation Box enables companies, entities and the public to purchase lights of Burj Khalifa, for as little as Dh10 each, to collectively donate 1.2 million meals or food parcels to low-income individuals and families in the UAE. For every light purchased for Dh10 through the website www.tallestdonationbox.com, one meal is provided to someone in need.
 
Dubai South announces economic stimulus package
Dubai South Free Zone announced on Sunday several economic stimulus incentives to mitigate the effects of the current situation that the UAE and the world are going through as part of the vision of the UAE's leadership to stimulate the economy and support different sectors of the business society. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Airports, said the stimulus package is part of a mandate to exert tireless efforts and align them with the initiatives and decisions of the government so that Dubai will remain a sought-after business destination and maintain its prominent position on all global performance indicators. "Dubai South is proud to be part of the emirate's overall value proposition and we are keen to enhance its competitiveness and attractiveness to ensure it can attract more domestic and foreign direct investment.," he said.
 
Call for special prayers by all faiths to end pandemic
The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity has called on people all over the world to pray to God for an end to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, noting that the world is facing a great danger that threatens the lives of millions of people due to the growing spread of the virus. The committee invited believers of the world of any and all faiths to make Thursday, May 14, "a day for fasting, prayers, and supplications for the good of all humanity". The committee said, "Each one, from wherever they are and according to the teachings of their religion, faith, or sect, should appeal to God to lift this pandemic off us and the entire world, to rescue us all from this adversity." The committee called on people to ask God "to inspire scientists to find a cure that can turn back this disease, and to save the whole world from the health, economic, and human repercussions of this serious pandemic".
 
'More than 3 family members can travel together in a car in UAE'
Members of the same family are allowed to travel in the same vehicle without getting fined for violating the three-people limit, the Abu Dhabi Police have said. First-degree relatives are also exempted from the limitation and they can travel in the same vehicle even if there are more than three people, the police added. According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, many families who have more than a child complained as they always had to leave members of their family at home due to the three-people cap, saying that some of their children couldn't go out for more than two months. The Abu Dhabi Police stressed that a fine of Dh1,000 will be imposed on a driver if he had more than three individuals in his vehicle, adding that such limit is only for taxis and motorists who get passengers in their cabs. Members of the same family should not be worried about this limitation, the police noted.
Free parking in Sharjah extended until June 30
Parking in Sharjah will be free until June 30, it was revealed on Sunday. Thabit Salem Al Tarifi, director-general of Sharjah Municipality, said that the municipality has started resetting the parking meters today to dispense parking tickets after June 30. The move follows the decision by the Sharjah Executive Council to reduce financial burden on the community during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. According to the decision, parking in the emirate is free from April 1 to June 30. Those who have subscribed to long-term parking permits will get an additional three months after their permits expire. The municipality is also providing free parking spaces for three months to establishments as the pandemic continues to impact lives across the board.

Over 13,000 Afghan expats repatriated from UAE
Over 13,000 Afghan expats who were stranded in the UAE because of Covid-related restrictions have been repatriated till date, the Afghan Consul-General Masood Azizi told Khaleej Times. The diplomat said Afghanistan is one of the first countries to fly out their stranded citizens in such huge numbers. "We value our great friendship with the UAE, and we do not want to be a burden to this country when it is fighting this global pandemic." Azizi said with people living in clustered accommodations where 15 to 20 people share a room, the UAE government has had to deal with emerging safety concerns. "We believe it is our responsibility to repatriate our citizens and ease the burden on the UAE, hence, the prompt decision by the Afghan government to fly our citizens back home," he said. There are more than 80,000 Afghan nationals living in the UAE.
 
Free tests for those who show symptoms, elderly, pregnant women
The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) has stated that the test for Covid-19 coronavirus is available for free in healthcare facilities across the emirate for people who are showing signs or symptoms of Covid-19, as well as for the elderly, pregnant women, and those who have chronic diseases. The regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate said in a statement on Sunday that testing is available to the wider members of the community who are looking to check up on their health status and confirm they are virus-free, for a cost of Dh370 as previously set, covering only the examination. The DoH has confirmed that coronavirus test is one of the key steps to curbing the spread of the virus and one of the most effective preventative measures to maintain the health and well-being of the community.
 
Dubai issues circular for disposal of masks, gloves
Dubai Municipality on Sunday announced that it had issued a circular to all companies involved in waste management in the emirate, about the need to provide special containers for the collection of masks, gloves and other personal protection equipment used by citizens and residents. Masks and gloves are items that can become quickly contaminated. Because studies suggest that the virus may persist on surfaces for at least a few hours, observing appropriate disposal protocol for personal protection waste is a necessary measure to help contain the spread of Covid-19. The circular from Dubai Municipality comes on the heels of last month's announcement by Abu Dhabi police that motorists caught throwing face masks and gloves out of their vehicle windows would be fined Dh1,000 - with six traffic points registered against their driving licences.
 
UAE researchers to track spread of Covid-19 by monitoring wastewater
A team of UAE researchers are now working on a project that would monitor wastewater to detect and track the spread of Covid-19 among the general population. Studies indicate that people infected with the novel coronavirus - including those without symptoms - are shedding the virus through human waste. Based on these findings, experts from the Khalifa University (KU) of Science and Technology now aim to establish a surveillance system for municipal wastewater. "Since the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater should mirror the number of detected infections in the population, testing a municipal wastewater sample will be tantamount to essentially testing everyone who has contributed to that sample - in other words a way of mass testing," KU said.
 
UAE govt departments free to work remotely even after pandemic is over
The remote work system can continue to be in force even after the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic is over, the Federal Authority For Government Human Resources has said. In its latest circular issued to the ministries and federal entities, the authority said the remote work system can be used on a permanent basis under normal circumstances. "The remote system will help create new job opportunities and also help in maintaining work-life balance," read the circular. The decision to implement the system is at the discretion of the head of departments of the entities and can be applied to any current or future employees, who can work remotely. "All government departments should create the best criteria to choose the right employees to work remotely and send it to the authority for approval."
 
Over 60,000 Pakistanis register to go back home from UAE
Pakistan Consulate in Dubai has registered more than 60,000 Pakistani citizens, who are willing to go back to the country, through special flights operations in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. Ahmed Amjad Ali, Consul General of Pakistan, Dubai, said that more than 2,500 stranded Pakistanis have so far been repatriated to the country, through special flights operations, conducted by the Pakistani and UAE airlines. In a video message late on Sunday evening, the consul-general has asked the Pakistani community residing in Dubai and Northern Emirates to show patience with regards to the current situation. "We have intensified the repatriation process and everybody registered with the consulate will be repatriated to the country soon," the consul-general said.
 
The recovery of a UAE-based Filipino family who never lost hope
Ayah Pauline Pangilinan is only seven years old, but when both her parents tested positive for Covid-19 - she had been the strong one. She wrote well wishes and prayed hard, especially for her dad who was on a ventilator for 16 days. Filipino expat Rhea Almazan Pangilinan, Ayah's mother, was shocked when at one point her daughter asked her, "Will Papa die?" "She asked this in a very straightforward manner, right into my face. But then she asked me why I am worried when there is God to protect us," Rhea said. Although Ayah was the youngest member of the family, she showed immense courage and behaved with maturity during such trying times, she added.
 
Reluctant to send kids abroad, parents in UAE turn to local varsities
With the current Covid-19 pandemic, UAE parents and prospective international students are now considering options for higher education within the country. Many top foreign universities have already announced that if public health officials deem it unsafe for students to congregate, live classes may not resume until January 2021.  Speaking to Khaleej Times, parents and students shared their thoughts on why studying abroad doesn't appear to be a good option this year.UAE resident Manisha Bhatia feels the Covid-19 situation has changed the way people perceive things. Even higher education in foreign universities seems less attractive to families, given the health scare.

• Dubai