13 people held for virus violations in Sharjah
Over a dozen individuals were arrested for gathering in one of the unlicensed sandy squares in Sharjah to play cricket in a complete violation of the coronavirus preventive and precautionary measures.
The security inspection teams in charge of following up the implementation of the precautionary measures in the Emirate issued 13 violations for individuals not adhering to the measures to combat COVID-19.
This came as part of the team’s extensive campaign carried out within the framework of the intensive preventive efforts undertaken by the competent authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus and protect members of society.
The local team stressed the need to adhere to the precautionary measures, and to report any violation by commercial establishments or individuals, through the channels designated for this mater, namely the call centre 901, or the “Haris” service via the Sharjah Police application, or by email: covid19@shjpolice.gov.ae
Dubai Department of Economy (DED) closed an establishment, warned 6, and fined 2 for not adhering to the precautionary measures set to limit COVID-19. Dubai Economy stressed the importance of following the precautionary measures and report violations to the Dubai Consumer app.
On Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention ( MOHAP) recorded 2,692 new coronavirus cases.
Additionally, 1,589 individuals have recovered and 16 people passed away.
Using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment, the ministry conducted 218,351 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry stressed its aim to continue expanding the scope of testing nationwide to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment.
The UAE has recorded 399,463 positive cases, 385,587 have recovered and 1,269 passed away.
In the US, President Joe Biden said the country expects to take delivery of enough coronavirus vaccine for all adults by the end of May — two months earlier than anticipated — and he pushed states to get at least one shot into the arms of teachers by the end of March to hasten school reopenings.
Biden also announced Tuesday that drugmaker Merck will help produce rival Johnson & Johnson’s newly approved one-shot vaccine, likening the partnership between the two drug companies to the spirit of national cooperation during World War II.
“We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May,” Biden said.
Despite the stepped-up pace of vaccine production, the work of inoculating Americans could extend well into the summer, officials said, depending both on the government’s capacity to deliver doses and Americans’ willingness to roll up their sleeves.
In Britain, the treasury chief announced an additional 65 billion pounds ($91 billion) of support for an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, extending job support programs and temporary tax cuts to help workers and businesses in his annual budget.
British scientists urged European countries to take note of interim data showing what they described as “remarkable” effectiveness of a single dose of Pfizer’s or Astrazeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines in frail and elderly people.
The results from a surveillance project called AVONCAP, funded by Pfizer, found that one dose of the Pfizer-biontech or Astrazeneca shot was highly effective at preventing symptomatic illness severe enough to lead to hospitalisation among patients aged over 80 with multiple other illnesses.
Government ministers and officials were following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lead by opting on Tuesday for an Indian-made COVID-19 vaccine approved without late-stage efficacy data, instead of the Astrazeneca one.
India’s health, foreign and law ministers, and state governors, all flocked to Twiter to express support for the much-criticised Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN vaccine, ater it was administered to Modi on Monday.
“Made-in-india vaccines are 100% safe,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said ater being inoculated with COVAXIN.
UAE reports 2,692 cases, 16 deaths; Dubai shuts a firm, fines 2 over COVID-19; Britain injects $91b fund to prop up virus-hit economy; Modi’s ministers select ‘Made in India’ vaccine.