Coronavirus: UAE reports 1,171 Covid-19 cases, 866 recoveries, 3 deaths

Dubai - The country has crossed 19 million tests so far.

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Sunday reported 1,171 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 866 recoveries and 3 deaths.

As many as 128,562 new Covid-19 tests were carried out, taking the total number of tests carried out in the country to 19 million plus so far.

Total number of cases in UAE stand at 193,575 while total recoveries are 168,995. Death toll stands at 637 as on December 20.

Also read: Concern among Muslims over halal status of vaccines

Active cases in UAE stand at 23,943.

On December 9, the UAE approved the Chinese firm Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine that has 86 per cent efficacy. Abu Dhabi Ports has been a core member in the vaccine distribution mission with its advanced logistics capacity and capabilities.

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With a 19,000-square metre temperature-controlled warehouse facility on 40,000-square metre plot in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), it has the capacity to store and distribute 70 million vaccines. The newly-launched Hope Consortium has bolstered its distribution reach following a strategic agreement with leading international freight forwarders. The latest consortium partners, which include Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel, will help address the different steps of the logistical challenge, including ‘last mile’, with a capacity of billions of Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of 2021.

Companies in the UAE are encouraging their employee to take the Covid-19 vaccine as it will bring confidence into consumers.

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In order to facilitate their employees, companies are not just letting their employees to go and get jab during workhours but some of them are arranging transportation as well to get Covid-19 vaccination.

“Yes, we are encouraging employees to take the vaccine and quite a few of them have started taking it, including the senior management. We are in talks with the government officials to get permission to set up a facility in Jafza as we have a large number of employees. Simultaneously, we are also arranging for transportation facilities for those employees who don’t have their own a vehicle,” said Rizwan Sajan, chairman and founder of Danube Group.

Sajan said taking the vaccine will not only protect our employees but also instil confidence among our customers as well.

Paras Shahdadpuri, chairman of Nikai Group, said they have already taken initiatives to take Covid-19 vaccination and their staff is quite excited to take this jab.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Covid-19 vaccine in the UAE just before the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is a big boost for shopper’s confidence. Dubai’s month-long shopping extravaganza, that began on December 17, is one of the biggest in the emirate’s annual event’s calendar. Complete with raffle draws, family entertainment, live concerts and retail promotions, the 26th edition of the festival will be on till January 30, 2021. Organisers have said that strict Covid safety measures will be in place at participating malls and shopping destinations.