UAE’S fight against COVID-19 commendable, emulative: VP
The heroic efforts of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis are a source of pride and inspiration for all of us, remarked Sheikh Mohammed
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre located at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences on Saturday.
Sheikh mo hammed said th eu ae has succeeded in countering the COVID-19 outbreak and set a commendable example for the world in managing the pandemic. His Highness praised the contributions of healthcare and medical personnel, which significantly supported the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
“The heroic efforts of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis are a source of pride and inspiration for all of us. We thank them for their commitment and professionalism and urge them to continue working with the same spirit of dedication until we completely overcome these challenges.”
An Emirati family in Ras Al Khaimah set a precautionary condition for those invited to attend the daughter’s wedding in coronavirus time.
The wedding was held at the bride’s home in the Maamoura region in Ras Al Khaimah, on Friday night.
The guests were asked to undergo a COVID-19 tests, and to present the negative result of the test before entering the house.
Around 25 guests were present, in accordance with the safety and precautionary conditions, and that includes presenting the COVID-19 results before they enter the home and participate in the ceremony.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) on Saturday said it carried out 77,640 additional COVID-19 tests in the country over the last 24 hours, using the latest testing methods.
The ministry said in a statement that the intense testing drive uncovered 283 new virus cases. This brings the total number of official cases recorded in the UAE to 64,102. MOHAP also announced the death of two patients. It also announced the recovery of an additional 98 individuals from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 57,571.
India’s confirmed coronavirus cases have crossed 2.5 million with another biggest singleday spike of 65,002 in the past 24 hours. India is behind the United States and Brazil in the number of cases. The Indian health ministry on Saturday also reported another 996 deaths for a total of 49,036.
Russia said that it has produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine, ater President Vladimir Putin announced it had been first in the world to approve a vaccine.
Putin’s announcement on Tuesday about the vaccine was met with caution from scientists and the World Health Organisation ( WHO) who said it still needed a rigorous safety review.
“The first batch of the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya research institute has been produced,” the health ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.
British holidaymakers returning home from parts of Europe began having to quarantine on Saturday under new restrictions, as a second wave of virus infections threatened more disruption and economic chaos on the continent.
The UK opted to remove France, the Netherlands, Malta and several other countries from its list of places exempt from self-isolation rules, sparking a rush for plane, train and ferry tickets by Britons desperate to get back before the 4am (0300 GMT) change.
All travellers arriving from the three countries — as well as Monaco, and Caribbean island states Turks & Caicos and Aruba — ater the deadline must quarantine for 14 days.
Meanwhile Germany added most of Spain — where cases have also surged in recent weeks — to its list of regions from where arrivals must show a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for two weeks.
Pakistani health officials on Saturday launched a seven-day vaccination campaign against polio as part of efforts aimed at eliminating the crippling disease amid a steady decline in fatalities and infections from the coronavirus.
And thousands of Albanians queued for miles in their cars at the Greek border before tougher entry requirements designed to brake mounting infections began.
The United States also said it was extending a ban on non-essential travel through border crossings with Canada and Mexico throughout most of September “to slow the spread” of the disease.
Emirati family asks wedding guests to bring COVID-19 negative results; UAE reports 283 new cases, two deaths; India cases cross 2.5m with another jump; Russia rolls out vaccine; Pakistan launches anti-polio drive.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, visited the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre located at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chancellor of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Commitee of Crisis and Disaster Management; Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and senior officials from public and private hospitals accompanied Sheikh Mohammed during his visit.
Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE has succeeded in countering the COVID-19 outbreak and set a commendable example for the world in managing the pandemic. The country’s scientific approach in combating the virus and the meticulous planning and collaborative spirit shown by frontline organisations helped turn the crisis into an opportunity, he added.
His Highness praised the contributions of healthcare and medical personnel, which significantly supported the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the virus. “The heroic efforts of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis are a source of pride and inspiration for all of us. We thank them for their commitment and professionalism and urge them to continue working with the same spirit of dedication until we completely overcome these challenges”.
Dr. Amer Ahmad Sharif, Head of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre and the Vice Chancellor of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, briefed His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and his accompanying delegation on the role of the Centre in coordinating and aligning the efforts of healthcare establishments and developing the medical protocols required to control the outbreak of the virus.
In a separate development, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued Decree No. 24 of 2020 on the Board of Directors of the Investment Corporation of Dubai.
According to the Decree, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, is the Chairman of the Board and Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice Chairman.
Members of the Board include Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Mohammed Hadi Al Hussaini, and Helal Saeed Al Marri.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani will serve as the Managing Director.
Recently, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute, the UAE’S first independent biomedical research centre.
Deputy Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum; Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Commitee of Crisis and Disaster Management Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-general of the Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Mohammad Al Gergawi atended the inauguration.
His Highness toured the facility that seeks to conduct research to address the COVID-19 pandemic and other viral diseases. Established with an initial investment of Dhs300 million, the Institute is part of the Al Jalila Foundation, an entity under the umbrella of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.
During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum met a group of scientists who presented their research projects. His Highness was briefed on Al Jalila Foundation’s accomplishments and extensive research porfolio.
On the occasion of the inauguration, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Medical research is an integral part of prevention and medical security in the UAE. Supporting research helps ensure sustainable economic, social and human development. Scientific research has been the main approach of scientists and researchers for many centuries in our region and is key to building a stable and prosperous future.”