Nurseries close in bid to curb coronavirus
Nurseries and kindergartens have been temporarily closed and school trips banned as the UAE seeks to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Authorities imposed restrictions on every school in the country after the number of cases in the Emirates rose to 21 at the weekend, when two support staff in the country for the UAE Tour – a major cycling event – tested positive for Covid-19.
The final stages of the tour were cancelled and a lockdown was put in place at two hotels in Yas Island, while hundreds of cyclists and support staff at the event
were tested for the respiratory illness.
Yesterday, Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, moved to reassure residents about the country’s ability to deal with an escalating outbreak, with the number of cases increasing across the world.
He said that test results for 450 of the 612 people in the UAE for the cycle event had come back, all of which were negative.
“The UAE conducts high-competency systematic tests,” Mr Al Owais said. “The two cases that were reported in the cycling competition were actually from the accompanying supporting technicians and not cyclists. Their interactions with the public were very limited.”
Meanwhile, two planes were on standby to bring home UAE citizens from Iran, where reports suggest more than 200 people have died from coronavirus. The Iranian government insists the total is much lower.
Emirati authorities also moved to advise banks to reschedule loans and reduce fees and commissions yesterday as part of measures to mitigate the economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak.
The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi, which had been due to take place on March 5 to 7, will also be rescheduled.
In what ministers stressed was a precautionary move, extra-curricular school activities such as field trips will be cancelled until further notice and staff have been urged to be on alert for any pupil displaying flu-like symptoms. Those who do appear unwell will be sent home as a matter of urgency.
Nurseries and kindergartens will be closed from today, Hussain Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education confirmed.
The nationwide restriction came after a move on Friday by Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the regulator of private schools in Dubai, to order the cancellation of teacher events and any “internal and external” trips.
At one school in Abu Dhabi, parents were told not to attend their children’s sports day.
About 131 children involved in the UAE cycle tour, some just as fans, would be tested for coronavirus, Mr Al Hammadi said.
They will not attend school for a fortnight and instead be expected to study at home.
“We have been in contact with their parents so that the pupils and parents be tested and any cases will be followed up in co-ordination with the Ministry of Health,” he said.
“There are detection mechanisms in the UAE which are highly capable of dealing with these events.
“Nurseries across the country will be suspended from March 1 and parents are informed that this is a precautionary measure for the safety of our pupils. The facilities are under double sanitation efforts also as another precautionary measure.”
Of the 21 coronavirus cases in the UAE, five people have recovered and there have been no deaths. Two people who were previously in a critical condition are now stable.
At Yas Island, where many of the people in the country for the cycle tour had been staying, both the W Hotel and Crowne Plaza Hotel were quarantined at the weekend as tests were carried out.
Some guests said they had been ordered to remain in their rooms until they were called for tests, which were carried out by medical staff in hazmat suits.
“The health and well-being of our guests and employees takes top priority,” said a
Nurseries will be suspended from March 1 and parents are informed that this is a precautionary measure HUSSAIN AL HAMMADI Minister of Education
spokeswoman for the Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi at Yas Island.
“We are co-operating with the relevant authorities as they take precautionary measures, but no diagnosis has been confirmed.”
Government officials stressed yesterday that the mortality rate among those to catch coronavirus was low, with most of the deaths occurring in elderly patients.
More than 50 countries have now reported a case of coronavirus, with Qatar becoming one of the latest to confirm it has been affected. It leaves Saudi Arabia as the only Gulf country which has not yet reported a coronavirus case.