Dubai opens two PCR testing centres; July 31 UK jab deadline

DUBAI: The Dubai Health Authority ( DHA) has added two more COVID-19 PCR testing centres to the list of accredited establishment conducting the tests on Sunday.

The DHA said that Al Safa Health Centre and Nad Al Sheba Centre for Ladies are now open to the public. Customer can book an appointment through DHA App or by calling 800342.

The DHA said the fee of the COVID-19 PCR test in all private sector facilities would not exceed Dhs150 and would cover all services of collecting the nasal swab, making the lab test and issuing the result or the certificate.

The DHA warned against the imposition of any extra fees such as express testing fees or fees for faster issuance of result, noting that the COVID-19 PCR test is limited to collecting a nasal swab in the Dha-licensed health facilities.

On the other hand, it is for the health, safety and security of everyone if anyone who goes for a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, do the responsible act of self-isolation while practising all precautionary measures until guaranteed that he is not stricken with the dreadful persisting mutated Sars-cov2-causing Novel Coronavirus (COVID19).

The self-isolation is important as it is necessary or even mandatory since “this is crucial to protect your family and the community at large,” said Dubai Health Authority ( Dha)-health Promotion and Education head Dr. Hind Al Awadhi on Monday.

In case of a negative PCR test, the close contacts must still exercise the full 10-day necessary self-quarantine. They are not required to undergo the PCR test “unless they develop the symptoms; however, they ( may opt to.)”

Meanwhile, professional disinfection of the bedroom and bathroom of the COVID-19 patient “can only take place ater the person has no fever for the last three consecutive days of the isolation period (without using any fever medication); and, ater completing the duration of the isolation period which will be 10 days or longer depending on the individual’s case.” The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) recorded 2,250 coronavirus cases on Sunday.

In addition to the new cases, 3,684 individuals have recovered and 17 people passed away.

Using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment, the UAE has conducted 197, 701 additional COVID-19 tests in the last 24 hours.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment.

The UAE has recorded 370, 425 coronavirus cases since the outbreak, 359,697 have recovered and 1,125 individuals passed away.

Social gatherings and private parties have been the main cause of the surge in coronavirus cases in the UAE.

In the UK, the government declared that every adult in the country should get a first coronavirus vaccine shot by July 31, at least a month earlier than its previous target, as it prepared to set out a “cautious” plan to ease the UK’S lockdown.

The previous aim was for all adults to get a jab by September. The new target also calls for everyone 50 and over and those with an underlying health condition to get their first of two vaccine shots by April 15, rather than the previous date of May 1.

The makers of the two vaccines that Britain is using, Pfizer and Astrazeneca, have both experienced supply problems in Europe. But UK Health Secretary Mat Hancock said Sunday that “we now think that we have the supplies” to speed up the vaccination campaign.

The early success of Britain’s vaccination effort is welcome good news for a country that has had more than 120,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest toll in Europe. More than 17.5 million people, a third of UK adults, have had at lease one vaccine shot since inoculations began on Dec.8.

Britain is delaying giving second vaccine doses until 12 weeks ater the first, rather than three to four weeks, in order to give more people partial protection quickly. The approach has been criticized in some countries — and by Pfizer, which says it does not have any data to support the interval — but it is backed by the UK government’s scientific advisers.

In Russia, forty homeless people in Saint Petersburg received coronavirus vaccine jabs on Sunday, under a charity initiative that has received the backing of local officials.

“Here there are many people at risk. It is important for them to be vaccinated,” said Taysia Suvorova, of the Nochlezhka non-governmental that organisation provides aid to the homeless in Russia’s second city.

The 40 people receiving the vaccine are currently housed by the charity.

According to official figures there are 15,000 homeless people in the former imperial capital, out of a total population of five million.

Nochlezhka believes the real figure is at least double that.

“Some people have been saying controversial things about the vaccine, but I think there are more advantages than negatives,” 57-year-old Galina Ivanovna told AFP, ater receiving the first dose of the vaccine.