The PCR testing centre in Dubai's Jafiliya area can carry out 1,000 tests a day. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
The PCR testing centre in Dubai's Jafiliya area can carry out 1,000 tests a day. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
The centre can be easily reached by Dubai Metro.
The centre can be easily reached by Dubai Metro.
The centre is open for walk-in appointments.
The centre is open for walk-in appointments.
A health worker freezes a swab collected at the testing centre located in the car park of Dubai's main immigration office.
A health worker freezes a swab collected at the testing centre located in the car park of Dubai's main immigration office.
Tests cost Dh125, Dh80 for blue-collar workers.
Tests cost Dh125, Dh80 for blue-collar workers.
The centre was set up by the Right Health group, which has opened affordable clinics for workers across the UAE.
The centre was set up by the Right Health group, which has opened affordable clinics for workers across the UAE.
Staff register people at the centre.
Staff register people at the centre.
The centre will serve those that live in the neighbourhood.
The centre will serve those that live in the neighbourhood.
A man fills in his details before having a PCR test.
A man fills in his details before having a PCR test.
Immigration staff are able to get tested for Dh65.
Immigration staff are able to get tested for Dh65.
The centre is near the Jafiliya metro station.
The centre is near the Jafiliya metro station.
The walk-in facility enables people to get tested quickly and easily.
The walk-in facility enables people to get tested quickly and easily.

Coronavirus

UAE records 70 new Covid-19 cases and no deaths

Another 90 people beat the virus, taking the tally of recoveries to 736,601

Georgia Tolley
Georgia Tolley

November 26, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE recorded 70 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the country's tally to 741,790.

A further 90 people beat the virus as the recovery tally reached 736,601.

The death toll remains at 2,145.

The latest cases were detected as a result of an additional 263,429 tests, meaning the UAE is now only 23,462 tests away from reaching 100 million since the outbreak began.

Extensive testing, plus a nationwide vaccination drive, have been credited with helping to limit the spread of the virus in the UAE.

A new variant

Despite extensive vaccination campaigns around the world, Covid-19 cases are rising, in particular in northern European countries where winter is causing more people to stay indoors. The virus spreads more easily in enclosed spaces.

A lockdown have been imposed in Austria, and the Netherlands is considering tougher Covid-19 restrictions this week.

Germany recorded a new high of 419.7 new infections per 100,000 people this week, and 351 died in the past 24 hours, bringing its official death toll since the start of the pandemic to 100,119.

Read more

What's known about new B.1.1529 'Nu' Covid-19 variant from South Africa?

Concerns are also rising regarding the discovery of a new variant in South Africa, which has prompted the UK and other nations to impose a ban on flights from the region.

Experts from the World Health Organisation are meeting officials on Friday to assess the mutation, which is called B.1.1529.

The variant could eventually be called "Nu" by the WHO, as the most concerning variants are named using letters from the Greek alphabet.

Covid-19 in Europe

A Father Christmas figure holds Covid-19-related hygiene instructions for visiting the Christmas market in Hagen, western Germany. AFP
A Father Christmas figure holds Covid-19-related hygiene instructions for visiting the Christmas market in Hagen, western Germany. AFP
People wait to be vaccinated below Albrechtsburg castle and the cathedral in Meissen, Germany. AP
People wait to be vaccinated below Albrechtsburg castle and the cathedral in Meissen, Germany. AP
A pupil at the Petri primary school in Dortmund, western Germany. AFP
A pupil at the Petri primary school in Dortmund, western Germany. AFP
A drive-in vaccination centre at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. Reuters
A drive-in vaccination centre at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. Reuters
Shoppers in face masks at a Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany. Bloomberg
Shoppers in face masks at a Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany. Bloomberg
People in a queue reported to be 700 metres long wait to be vaccinated at the Philharmonic Hall in the northern German city of Hamburg. AFP
People in a queue reported to be 700 metres long wait to be vaccinated at the Philharmonic Hall in the northern German city of Hamburg. AFP
A medical worker administers a vaccine to a patient in a dressing room at the Theatre de Verdure vaccination centre in Nice, France. Reuters
A medical worker administers a vaccine to a patient in a dressing room at the Theatre de Verdure vaccination centre in Nice, France. Reuters
Cyclists on a 'coronapiste', a temporary cycle path created during the pandemic in Paris, France. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo set up about 60 kilometres of new cycling roads to take pressure off public transport during the pandemic. AFP
Cyclists on a 'coronapiste', a temporary cycle path created during the pandemic in Paris, France. Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo set up about 60 kilometres of new cycling roads to take pressure off public transport during the pandemic. AFP
A healthcare worker administers a vaccine during a vaccination campaign for foreign tourists in Benidorm, Spain. AFP
A healthcare worker administers a vaccine during a vaccination campaign for foreign tourists in Benidorm, Spain. AFP
Visitors have their Covid-19 health passes checked at the Christmas market in Trento, Italy, on its opening weekend. Reuters
Visitors have their Covid-19 health passes checked at the Christmas market in Trento, Italy, on its opening weekend. Reuters
Health workers administer booster shots at San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital in Rome, Italy. EPA
Health workers administer booster shots at San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital in Rome, Italy. EPA
The closed Christmas market next to Stephen's Cathedral, which would normally be packed with crowds of people, in Vienna, Austria. The country is under a nationwide lockdown. AFP
The closed Christmas market next to Stephen's Cathedral, which would normally be packed with crowds of people, in Vienna, Austria. The country is under a nationwide lockdown. AFP
An unusually quiet street decorated with Christmas lights in Vienna, Austria. AFP
An unusually quiet street decorated with Christmas lights in Vienna, Austria. AFP
People queue to receive a vaccine in Vienna, Austria. AP
People queue to receive a vaccine in Vienna, Austria. AP
Police patrol the centre of the northern city of Zwolle, where an emergency order is in force after three nights of unrest in the Netherlands over new Covid-19 measures. AFP
Police patrol the centre of the northern city of Zwolle, where an emergency order is in force after three nights of unrest in the Netherlands over new Covid-19 measures. AFP

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

On Women's Day
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

Mica

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi

Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

While you're here
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them

Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand

Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat  

Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar

Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices

Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants

Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on animal trafficking
Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

World Mental Health Day
UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

While you're here
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
Updated: November 26, 2021, 11:22 AM`
Coronavirus