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Coronavirus: UAE's Covid-19 cases down 21% in July-August

Dubai - Diabetics must take extra care as they are prone to developing complications if they contract the virus.

The UAE ranked first in testing its residents for Covid-19 in July and August, a top official said on Tuesday. During these two months, the total number of cases went down by 21 per cent. The country also saw its Covid mortality rate go down by 5.7 per cent.
The official UAE government spokesperson, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, said: "August saw more than two million lab tests nationwide (2,018,274) - the eighth highest in the world. There was an increase of 36 per cent in comparison to the tests conducted in July, when over 1.4 million tests were done."
Only 0.47 per cent of those tested were positive for the virus.
The official reiterated the government call to avoid gatherings. "These figures are the result of residents' awareness. We call on all members of society to play a fundamental role in continuing this development."
Dr Al Hammadi also urged people to wear masks, since they "could be asymptomatic and invisible carriers of the virus".
He warned that diabetics must take extra care as they are prone to developing complications if they contract the virus. However, he also said there is no evidence to link diabetes drugs to complications of Covid-19.
Dr Hammadi said the elderly and those with chronic diseases may exhibit symptoms days after catching the virus. "The incubation for Covid-19 is usually two to 14 days and symptoms begin to show within four to five days after the infection. The same, however, cannot be said for the elderly and those with chronic diseases."
Avoid gatherings
The authorities are not concerned just about family gatherings, "but also the measures applicable to restaurants, shopping centres and commercial premises". "We are still witnessing violations by restaurants and others."
Dr Hammadi urged families, businesses and institutions to strictly comply with precautionary and safety measures. "It is the individual duty and responsibility of all to avoid spreading the virus. Our role is to be vigilant, avoid crowded places, and practise social distancing," he added.
"We would like to stress to avoid these gatherings. Individual commitment is the main factor to allow us to curb the spread. Without that will have bigger complications."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com