ABU DHABI TO EXPAND FREE TESTING TO TOWER BLOCKS

Medics to visit highly populated areas of the emirate in a push to identify coronavirus cases

Medical teams will visit high-density areas and tower blocks across the emirate of Abu Dhabi in an expanded testing campaign to identify coronavirus cases.

In a renewed push to tackle the spread of Covid-19, authorities will introduce free testing in areas with large populations.

In particular, officials want to identify asymptomatic carriers who may be spreading the virus to others without knowing it.

Abu Dhabi’s public hospital operator, Seha, which set up field hospitals in the capital and Dubai, will run the campaign.

“This campaign aims to maintain the health and well-being of the community by ensuring easy access to healthcare services for all segments of society, and further regulate and manage the testing process,” the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi said.

Officials said widespread free testing remained crucial, even as the country eased restrictions and allowed people to return to work at offices.

Officials also stressed medics would come to the areas and buildings identified for testing, rather than asking residents to visit testing centres.

To date, the Emirates has tested more than two million people for Covid-19.

Starting last month, the government carried out mass testing in industrial areas, including Mussaffah, which is home to more than 330,000 people. Among them are blue-collar workers and labourers.

The government has also carried out hundreds of thousands of tests at drive-through centres across the country.

The strategy was considered key to curbing the spread of the virus and allowing shops and businesses to reopen.

At a televised briefing yesterday, health officials restated the need for people to act responsibly and to be aware of how vulnerable people with underlying health conditions may be during the outbreak.

“Statistics in the country indicate that people with chronic diseases represent the largest proportion of critical cases,” said Dr Farida Al Hosani, the government’s health spokeswoman.

“It is our responsibility as members of the community to take care of people with chronic diseases, to provide them with all support and to provide them with their daily needs to avoid leaving the home.

“We are at a critical stage in fighting Covid-19. We are living in one community and the safety of each individual depends on the safety of the other. All of us must be responsible to overcome this challenge.”