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Coronavirus news bulletin from UAE: 1,077 new cases reported; 'marked increase' in recoveries

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Dubai - Around-up of major developments related to Covid-19 across the country.

Published: Wed 21 Oct 2020, 10:41 AM

Updated: Wed 21 Oct 2020, 12:21 PM

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know:

UAE reports 1,077 Covid-19 cases, 1,502 recoveries, 4 deaths

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday reported 1,077 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,502 recoveries and four deaths. As many as 112,196 new Covid-19 tests were carried out, taking the total to over 11.8 million in the country so far. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday praised the UAE's efforts to fight Covid-19. "The UAE has developed a number of mechanisms that are unprecedented not just at the regional level but also at the global level. It created mechanisms for protection against Covid-19 and also mechanism for follow-up. There is no doubt that the UAE economy is the most diversified and most open at the regional level," said Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department.

UAE minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed gets Covid-19 vaccine

Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, tweeted a picture of himself as he was administered a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday. He took to his official Twitter handle to thank the medical staff and wrote: 'I thank the medical staff and the vaccinators. I wish everyone safety'. On October 16, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also received a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. 'Corona vaccination is our way to return to normal life', he had tweeted after he was vaccinated.

UAE continues to administer Covid-19 vaccine among frontliners

The UAE is continuing to administer a Covid-19 vaccine being trialled here among healthcare staff, a top official has said. The vaccine is being given under an emergency approval to the "first line of defense, who are more susceptible to disease as a result of the nature of their work". Dr Farida Al Hosni, spokesperson for the UAE health sector, said: "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many scientific and experimental steps have been shortened for the greater benefit and reduction of the spread of infection." The process of producing a vaccine in the normal scenarios could take "decades", she said.

'Marked increase' in UAE Covid-19 cases, recoveries

The UAE has seen a "marked increase" in the number of positive and recovered cases, a top official has said. "This rise is a natural and predicted result based on the global pattern, as a result of the gradual return to normal life," said Dr Farida Al Hosni, spokesperson for the UAE health sector. Between October 14 and 20, the rate of positive cases among those tested has remained at 1 per cent - the lowest compared to the European Union, the Middle East, North Africa and OECD countries. Compared to last week, the total number of recoveries increased to about 10,000 cases, with a total of 22 deaths. A mortality rate of 0.4 per cent is one of the lowest in the world, said the official.

Cashless payments, app alerts: How Dubai's Global Village will ensure safety

With just five days to go for the Global Village to reopen, its management has put in place stringent safety measures to keep visitors safe from Covid-19. For the first time, visitors to the park will be able to make contactless payments. Ali AlSuwaidi, chief operating Officer at Global Village, said: "With the world going digital, especially during the current times due to Covid-19, Global Village will also go digital. It will offer visitors a whole new digital experience that will include contactless payments, a new app and much more." The app can be used to make payments for entry tickets, passes and purchases at outlets. "Also, we are introducing an e-wallet service that is linked to visitors' credit cards so that they can have 100 per cent cashless payments across all retail, food and beverage outlets."



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