Coronavirus news bulletin: UAE seeks residents' commitment; 726 new cases announced; new guidelines issued for Abu Dhabi govt offices

Here's a round-up of all the latest Covid-19 developments you need to know:
UAE seeks residents' solidarity in Covid-19 war

Businesses, public spaces and offices are opening up in the UAE as the country eases back to normalcy. However, the government has stressed on residents' commitment to precautionary measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. At a virtual Press briefing about the Covid-19 situation in the country on Saturday, Khaleej Times asked if the authorities were expecting an increase in the number of infections now that restrictions had been eased. Dr Farida Al Housani, official spokesperson of the UAE health sector, said: "It all depends on how committed everybody is to the precautionary measures." She was referring to measures like mandatory use of face masks; the need for social distancing and avoiding gatherings; and good hand hygiene. Dr Amna Al Dahhak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Government, said: "The gradual opening up of economic sectors and return to normalcy will not be successful without the full cooperation of the community and their awareness. It requires the commitment of all citizens and residents."We have full trust that the community is aware and we shall all stand together until we emerge from this challenge."

UAE reports 726 new Covid-19 cases, 449 recoveries

The new cases were detected through 42,000 tests and the authority also announced 2 deaths as a result of the illness. With the UAE reopening economic activities gradually, its residents can help stop the spread of Covid-19 by committing to precautionary measures, a top official has said. During a virtual Press briefing about the Covid-19 situation in the country, Khaleej Times asked if the authorities were expecting an increase in the number of infections now that restrictions had been eased. The official said: "It might happen but it depends on the precautions that each individual takes." Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson of the UAE Government, said: "The gradual opening up of economic sectors and return to normalcy will not be successful without the full cooperation of the community and their awareness. It requires the commitment of all citizens and residents."
 
MoF announces more relief measures for UAE firms

The UAE's Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced more relief measures for companies to shield them from the impact of Covid-19 by halving and cancelling certain fees. Fees of registering suppliers in the Federal Supplier Register at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development have been cut by 50 per cent - from Dh1,000 to Dh500 - while cancellation and renewal fees have been revoked. In addition, MoF cancelled fees for selling tender documents in federal entities. These decisions will boost the national economy and stimulate business environment against coronavirus. A number of other government entities have also announced measures on the similar lines to support private sector.

Stranded UAE residents can return from Monday

In a heart-warming decision to reunite families that have been split by anti-Covid travel restrictions, the UAE has announced that residents with valid visas stranded outside the country can return from June 1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship said they will begin the process on Monday, June 1, by allowing the return of those residency holders currently stranded outside the country who have relatives in the UAE. Residents who meet this criteria must apply for a Resident Entry Permit on smartservices.ica.gov.ae. The ministry and the authority said the decision was taken to reunite families that have been affected by the anti-coronavirus measures taken due to the exceptional circumstances.
StayHome helps prevent 80% divorces in Abu Dhabi

Family disputes in Abu Dhabi significantly reduced during the StayHome period and many couples were able to settle issues amicably because they had enough time to communicate and speak out their differences, according to authorities. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) on Saturday announced that the courts in Abu Dhabi have witnessed a marked decrease in the number of family disputes that were received by the department's Family Guidance Division during the recent period. According to officials, there has been a noticeable increase in the cases of reconciliation between couples, with a concern to preserve the family, especially during the StayHome period. "Spending time together has helped couples in containing disputes and restoring harmony among the family members," pointed out judicial authorities.


Abu Dhabi to launch programme to support companies hit by Covid-19

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) is set to launch a special programme to support import and export companies in the Capital that are facing challenges due to Covid-19 crisis.  Added will coordinate with such companies to ascertain difficulties faced by them, which affected their operations, and collaborate with concerned government and semi-government entities to offer support. Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, Undersecretary of Added, said the new initiative will help improve the efficiency of local export activities, and address logistical constraints that are leading to higher export costs. The programme will increase domestic export volume as well as attract new foreign investors to Abu Dhabi.
Will UAE-based Pakistanis benefit from opening up of airspace for international flights?

Pakistan's civil aviation authority on Friday announced its decision to allow national and foreign airlines to operate outbound international flights from all major airports. The airlines may fly to Pakistan without passengers but can carry passengers to international destinations. It has also announced standard operating procedures (SOPs) for outbound international flights had been issued including disinfection of aircraft and social distancing at airports. However, the reopening of its skies will only benefit those who want to travel to the countries that have allowed people to transit or enter. Pakistani nationals holding valid UAE residence visas can only benefit if authorities in the UAE open airspace and allow foreign airlines to bring in stranded residents to their countries. Though the UAE has announced that stranded residents can return from June 1, sources with the local airlines told Khaleej Times that this will only be possible if current NOTAM - which bans regular flights by local and foreign carriers till June 4 - is withdrawn.
Dh3,000 fine for stepping out unnecessarily from 11pm to 6am in Dubai

Dubai and some other emirates are easing back to normalcy with most businesses, including cinemas and gyms, now open with stringent precautionary measures in place. However, mobility restrictions remain during the National Sterlisation Programme hours from 11pm to 6am in Dubai; and 10pm to 6am in all other emirates. The Dubai Police have warned residents about a Dh3,000 fine for stepping out during these hours except for emergencies. Taking to Twitter, the police explained that residents can step out during "curfew times" only for:> Buying food and medicines, > Health emergencies, > Job-related purposes in vital sectors. Residents need to obtain a permit from https://dxbpermit.gov.ae before venturinf out during these hours, the police added.
Covid-19 tracing app checks, 35% staff when Abu Dhabi Government offices reopen

New set of guidelines were issued on Saturday for working from government offices in Abu Dhabi. This is first sign of the emirate taking steps towards return to normalcy in the face of fight against Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, government entities can continue to work at full capacity while applying the guidelines, and taking into account that maximum attendances does not exceed 35 per cent of the workplace capacity. Each entity will implement the necessary mechanisms according to the guidelines. Capacity of government entities will be reviewed and updated weekly as per requirements. The new guidelines make optimum use of latest technology, tracing app and also integrated online portal TAMM, which offers all Abu Dhabi Government services.
Are you ready to go back to a very different office?

It has been rather long two months for those working from home. Seeing the world around them change and terms like 'webinars' and 'Zoom meetings' becoming more important than ever in corporate lexicon, many have had to adapt to this new normal. As many offices opened this week, it made way for more readjustments. No longer is the office a space where you punch in and punch out, have meetings and work on shared desks. Face masks, temperature checks, social distancing have come to define this return to work. Falcon 9, a cloud consultation and professional services company, reopened its offices this week. Its founder Mouteih Chaghlil says that while his employees have been happy to return to work - also seeing it as a semblance of life returning to 'normal' - the first week has been hard adapting to the changes at the workplace and the need to remain cautious at all times.
Free Covid-19 testing to include residents in Abu Dhabi

The free of cost mass Covid-19 testing campaign will now also cover groups of residents in high-density areas of Abu Dhabi. Till date, the free screenings were only for workers at facilities in the industrial areas. "As part of the National Screening Programme, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Public health Centre and Seha, will expand the free medical and Covid-19 testing campaign to include groups of residents in high-density areas in Abu Dhabi," the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said. "This comes as part of the intensified testing strategy, which is considered the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus and maintain public health." Additionally, nine new testing centres are set to be opened this week, bringing the total number of facilities to 24.
Indian expats seek special flights to Maharashtra from UAE

Hundreds of expats from the Indian state of Maharashtra, including pregnant women, ailing and elderly people, jobless and more are stuck in the UAE for want of repatriation flights. More than 80 flights were announced in the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission with many new destinations but none to any airports in Maharashtra. The people are clueless about going back home while special flights are landing in Mumbai from Kuwait, the UK, the US, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Two weeks ago, Mumbai native Shubhangi Saka, an Ajman-based homemaker and blogger, started a WhatsApp group with some stranded Maharashtrians. Today there are over 850 people in the group. "We have some 450 jobless people, 35 pregnant cases, medical emergencies and those stuck on visit visa. They have no means of survival," Shubhangi said.