HERE ARE OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE PRESS BRIEFING:
What help is being offered to expats?
Responding to a question posed by Mustafa Al Zarooni, UAE Editor, Khaleej Times, about residents who have suffered job losses and salary cuts, Al Marri said the UAE has provided all medical, humanitarian and social care to the people who are stranded here. “We are coordinating with embassies and consulates of various countries to devise a mechanism to evacuate their nationals. Airports are closed in some countries. Flydubai and Emirates have provided some trips to evacuate them as well. However, the UAE will provide them with necessary humanitarian and social care,” said Al Marri.
What are the measures if a person is affected, and lives with roommates?
Al Qutami said the residential units of infected individuals will be sterilised. “There is a 24X7 hotline number to address these matters. If the person feels like having any symptoms and has come in direct contact with an infected person, they can call on the hotline. We are monitoring all individuals the infected persons have been in contact with, and all confirmed cases will be provided with medical care. There are specific facilities for medical quarantine as well.”
How many hospital beds will be made available in case of a surge in patients?
“We have a plan to increase the capacity of hospitals, isolation centres and mobile hospitals, if necessary,” said Al Qutami. “We are working with private sector to make this possible, and we will have two mobile hospitals in Dubai, with a 1,000-bed capacity, in case of emergencies,” added Qutami.
In case of surge capacity, for quarantine purposes, Dubai has earmarked five-star hospitals to provide treatment. “For quarantine purposes, we will provide five-star hotels to patients. We have enough bed capacities that will reach thousands, and the mobile hospitals can accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 patients.
“Many building owners and hotel operators have offered premises to be used as quarantine centres,” said Al Qutami.
How long does it take to recover from coronavirus?
Al Qutami said the recovery time could be anything from a week to a month, depending on the patient’s general health and immunity status. “About 80 to 85 per cent of the cases are mild and do not need intensive care. The recovery varies.”
What help has been provided to workers in labour accommodations?
Lt-Gen Al Marri said the police have worked with the labour committee to raise awareness among the workers. “We have worked with our partners in labour committees and stakeholders. We have reduced the number of passengers per bus transporting workers, asked them to wear gloves, masks, and have applied a physical distance of minimum 2 metres,” said Al Marri.
Will Dubai blood banks continue to service people?
From February to March this year, a total of 8,300 individuals from various nationalities have donated blood. The Dubai Blood Donation Centre has adopted global safety standards, and has ensured that the blood is clean and ready for transfusion, especially for thalassemia and vehicle accident victims, said Qutami.