Saudi opens ‘Mataf’ for non-umrah performers
From today, only applicants and those with official business at the two Philippine missions in the UAE will be allowed to enter their premises in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Two Chinese patients of new coronavirus, COVID-19, have recovered, bringing to seven the total recovered cases in the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), announced on Friday.
With the latest recovery announcement of the two patients, aged 38 and 10, all members of the Chinese family are ‘’free’’ from the disease, MOHAP affirmed in a statement.
The MOHAP also reported that 15 cases of different nationalities have tested positive for the virus, taking to 45 the total infections in the country.
According to MOHAP, early monitoring and reporting system has screened 13 COVID-19 cases for one individual each from Thailand, China, Morocco and India, two individuals each
from Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Iran and three individuals from the UAE. All these cases arrived from abroad. Two cases, each from the UAE and Egypt, have been diagnosed with the virus by active surveillance system for being in close contact with confirmed cases announced previously in connection with the cycling event, the UAE Tour.
Five individuals in close contact with COVID-19 patients have also been screened, placed under health quarantine and subjected to preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus, the statement added..
All cases are being monitored round-the clock, are in a stable condition and are receiving all necessary health care required, MOHAP affirmed.
The UAE has announced the establishment of a preventative health centre within the Emirates Humanitarian City complex, to provide 24-hour health care for Arab students and residents evacuated from Wuhan, China - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
Joint humanitarian efforts saw the completion of the project within 48 hours since the UAE’S announcement of evacuating students from neighbouring countries from the city of Wuhan on Wednesday.
Run by qualified and trained medical teams, the centre is equipped with the necessary medical equipment and supplies to provide care and handle COVID-19, including airborne infection isolation rooms.
The announcement follows the directives issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Dr. Musleh Al Ahbabi, an official responsible for infectious diseases and public health care programmes in the country, confirmed to the WAM, the centre’s readiness to monitor and carry out preventive care to reduce the general risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections disease according to World Health Organisation standards and practices.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it has placed new preventive and precautionary measures in its fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), by temporarily restricting the entry of Emirati, Kuwaiti and Bahraini nationals into the country.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), citizens from those countries will only be permitted entry through the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Entry through land ports between the Kingdom and those three countries will be confined to commercial trucks only, it added.
An official source at the Ministry of Interior stated that the decision is part of efforts to stop the spread and eliminate the virus, and protect the health of citizens and expatriates.
Saudi Arabia also announced the opening of the Mataf (area for circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba) for non-umrah performers starting from Saturday, according to SPA.
The General President of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque Affairs Sheikh Dr. Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Sudais said the decision came following a royal order by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
He added that there was a “plan drawn up for this purpose.”
This follows a major cleaning and sterilisation operation inside and outside the Grand Mosque.
Dr Sheikh Al Sudais also stressed the need to adhere to precautionary procedures and cooperate with Grand Mosque workers to maintain public safety.
Dedicated health centre to monitor Wuhan evacuees; Saudi restricts entry of Emiratis, Kuwaitis and Bahrainis to 3 airports; 2 Chinese patients have recovered, bringing to seven the total number of recovered cases in the UAE.
From March 8, Sunday, only applicants and those with official business at the two Philippine missions in the UAE will be allowed to enter their premises in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai.
The implemented tight security are the preventive measures against the global pandemic Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), by the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi (AUHPE) and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (PCGDXB).
“Both the AUHPE and the PCGDXB issued the advisory,” wrote Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes to the Philippine Press Whatsapp Group on Saturday, when majority of the media practitionermembers of the communication line with the senior diplomat, were updating one another on the COVID-19.
AUHPE attends to 500 clients a day. PCGDXB attends to approximately 700 clients a day.
The advice carries a reminder for all the over 600,000 Filipinos in the UAE “to take the necessary health precautions, avoid large crowds and gatherings, and to observe the advisory given by the UAE (Ministry of Health and Prevention) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in relation to COVID-19.”
The AUHPE hotline is +971508137836. The PCGDXB hotlines are +971565015755/56.
Meanwhile, official count of the COVID-2019 cases all over the world, as per the WHO as of March 7, Saturday, 10:17 GMT, was at 102,544 cases from 98 countries and the Diamond Princess, up 5,993 cases from the the 96,551 in 87 countries and the Diamond Princess on March 5. Of the 102,544, deaths were at 3,501 up 119 from the 3,310 deaths on March 5, recovered were 57,691 up 7,610 from the 53,981 recovered on March 5.
From the 102,544 cases, in the UAE were 38 active cases (currently infected patients who could be in either mild/serious/critical conditions), two in serious/critical condition and seven recovered/ discharged.
Over-all and among the 98 countries as of March 7, 61,192 COVID-19 cases were considered closed, 57,691 recovered/discharged and 3,501 deaths.
The AUHPE and PCGDXB COVID-19 joint advisory was released four days after Who-eastern Mediterranean regional director Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari issued his March 3 statement on the disease situation in the 22 countries of the region which include the UAE, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.
“We have seen local transmission in our region, and it is likely that the outbreak may continue to progress from case importation to local transmission.
“We have the required expertise, capacities and tools to contain this outbreak. But the window of opportunity is closing, and we need to move fast.
“We continue to support all countries in enhancing surveillance for disease detection and reporting systems, including at points of entry; scaling-up laboratory capacities; training rapid response teams; improving infection prevention and control; ensuring hospitals are prepared; raising community awareness; and providing essential supplies.
Al Mandhari urged everyone to cooperate with all authorities, assist all the affected, and to “share detailed and timely information.”
In the AUHPE Facebook page, headlined as “Public Advisory No. 03-2020,” signed by Philippine
Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana and addressed to the Filipino Community in the UAE, are the following instructions:
All incoming clients will be made to undergo thermal screening. Those with body temperature higher than 37 degrees Centigrade will be requested to return to the (missions) at a later date. They will be advised to consult a physician.
Clients who have been admitted but show other symptoms such as coughing or sneezing will be requested to wear a face mask while inside (the missions).
All clients will be requested to apply hand sanitizers provided at the reception area before proceeding to the (missions’) transaction areas/ counters. Hand sanitizers are also available for their use at the service windows/counters.
Only applicants will be allowed entry to the (missions), except for minor children that need to be accompanied by parents. Accompanying family members, friends, employers, escort/s will be advised to wait outside the (missions).