Ministry confirms 781 new virus cases, 561 recoveries
Ministry of Health and Prevention calls on the public to cooperate with health authorities and adhere to social distancing protocols and preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of all
The Ministry of Health and Prevention announced on Sunday that it conducted over 35,000 additional COVID-19 tests using state-of-the-art medical testing methods.
In a statement, the ministry affirmed its aim to expand the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment.
As part of its intensified testing campaign, MoHAP detected 781 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in the UAE to 29,485.
According to the ministry, the infected individuals are from various nationalities, in a stable condition, and receiving the necessary care.
MOHAP also announced one death as a result of COVID-19 complications. The total number of deaths in the country has reached 245, it added.
The ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished current COVID-19 patients a speedy and full recovery.
MOHAP also noted an additional 561 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 15,056.
It called on the public to cooperate with health authorities and adhere to social distancing protocols and preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of all.
On Thursday, in a message to citizens and resident of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, emphasised the importance of following regulations during Eid holidays.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his gratitude and stressed the importance of the collective effort and contribution by all members of the community to overcome this challenge.
His Highness spoke about the importance of volunteer work and commended community members’ efforts to support the country in overcoming the COVID-19 challenge.
His Highness said: “Today, everyone in the world is fighting this battle. However, what distinguishes one country from another is team leaders, members, and volunteers who have made the UAE among the top 10 countries in combating this pandemic.”
His Highness also picked up on the insights shared by the expert guests on the importance of following regulations during the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid festivities that follow. He recognised the importance of family during these special times. Yet, he also noted that the recent increase in cases was due to the reluctance of people to practise social distancing.
His Highness added: “Unfortunately, by virtue of tradition, we started seeing an increase in the number of cases. I ask all our residents and citizens, especially during the Eid period to protect themselves and protect our families and our children.”
The episode, titled “Honouring our Traditions, Valuing our Safety,” featured Obaid Al Hassan Al Shamsi, Director-general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), Matar Al Nuaimi, Director-general of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center and Director of Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Department of Health, and Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE health sector.
The episode also featured heartfelt stories from volunteers and community members, working together on the frontline to combat this unprecedented challenge. The episode was aired live on Emarat TV and Sama Dubai on Thursday, , and will be replayed on Monday. All episodes are available to view on Youtube.
Dr Farida Al Hosani, official spokesperson for the UAE health sector, spoke extensively on the evolution of the UAE’S response to the crisis, from early detection to quick intervention and control. She explained the necessary measures taken by the country to prevent the disease from spreading. Throughout her insightful talk, she explained the indicators that the UAE is tracking daily to understand the pandemic’s status better locally.
She also touched on the near future and explained that people would need to adjust to a new lifestyle that will better protect them and their families. “Our main focus remains on preventive measures, such as physical distancing, wearing face masks, and hand-washing. And today, we know that COVID-19 is here to stay for a while, and these healthy habits should be the new lifestyle that we will need to adopt in the coming period.”