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Combating coronavirus: How Covid-19 pandemic changed family life in UAE

Social distancing has been seen as the most successful measure in curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Social distancing in the time of Covid-19 may have cancelled much-awaited gatherings and put long-planned family vacations on hold - however, it also allowed families to recover "lost times", a new Dubai report has found.
In its 'Life after Covid-19' report launched on Monday, the Dubai Future Foundation said the pandemic situation has given families an opportunity to reassess their priorities and spend more quality time with kids and the elderly.
"Those who, before the pandemic, had been busy with their phones during their family meetings, would appreciate the opportunity to spend 'real time' with their loved ones," the DFF said.
As work and classes are moved online and birthday parties are held over Zoom, the foundation has kept track of life changes to shed light on the challenges the UAE and the Arab world may face when the global health crisis is over.
Digital communications
Social distancing has been seen as the most successful measure in curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. And with it came the rise in online engagements and live support groups, the DFF said.
Active users of the Zoom video-conferencing application reached 2.22 million people per month during the past few months, it noted. This figure is, in fact, higher than its total users for the entire 2019.
"Primarily used for work, these platforms are now being used to host virtual birthday parties and events," the DFF said.
The spike in digital communications also allowed the formation of "new, more inclusive communities that enable people to engage with each other positively without mobility or monetary challenges".
This trend has also been considered a key to enhance the future of community engagement, it added.
In the Arab region, WhatsApp and TikTok have been widely used to counter fake news. Mobile video platform TikTok has even partnered with Unicef and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide verified information about Covid-19.
The WHO also used Facebook Messenger to fight false information, and the organisation expects that about 2.4 billion people will benefit from this communication drive. In regions most affected by the virus, the organisation has seen a 50 per cent increase in the use of messages on social media platforms.
Rise in empathy
As mental health becomes a common conversation amid Covid-19 isolation, the need for support communities has emerged, the DFF said.
Several psychologists and therapists in the region and the world are agreeing to create free virtual groups where people share their concerns and interests.
There has also been a rise in empathy and collective support, especially at a time when higher rates of family issues and divorce are noted.
"Domestic violence and emotional abuse have also increased as people have been forced to stay indoors in tense environments. The report cites United Nations Special Reporter on violence against women, Dubravka Simonovic, who stated that it is very likely that rates of domestic violence will increase," the DFF said.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com