Ramadan this year is unlike any ever experienced before. While the holy month is usually an occasion for people to come together and families to reconnect, physical distancing means that these long-held traditions have been disrupted.
And as the coronavirus remains a worldwide threat, enforcing distancing and hygiene measures is all the more crucial to avoid a second wave of infections. Over the past two weeks, the number of new cases in the UAE has increased, from an average of 500 new cases a day to more than 600. It is unclear whether the rise in numbers is due to increased infections or if it is proportional to the rise in testing.
The UAE had been testing 20,000 people daily in the lead-up to Ramadan, a number that has climbed to up to 29,000 since then. Health experts, however, have warned that some of the newly discovered cases are a result of the family gatherings commonly organised during Ramadan, and that these occasions have become a new vector to spread the virus unintentionally.
Read More about the coronavirus
Dr Amna Al Dhahak, spokeswoman for the UAE government has warned that "some families are still distributing food and sharing with their neighbours." She pointed out that while these steps are "done with good will," they could lead to spreading the virus inadvertently. This attachment to customs is understandable. However, it defies not only common sense but the recommendations of both religious authorities in the UAE and the Ministry of Health
This phenomenon is not restricted to the UAE’s borders. In Jordan, where infection rate had gone down to zero, a man who had contracted the coronavirus held an iftar attended by more than 100 people. More than half of the attendees were infected and the incident put new strain on government efforts to curb the spread of the disease. The coronavirus poses a dilemma that Muslims all around the world now have to face. To truly show the extent of their love and care for their families, they must, for now, keep away from them as much as possible, at least physically. This is especially difficult during Ramadan, but the cost of failing to comply with these measures is too great. After all the effort exerted for containment, complacency is unacceptable.
The story of Abdullahi Rodhile, the UAE's first patient to recover from Covid-19 after going through stem-cell therapy, is a case in point. After becoming infected, the father of 10 was put in an induced coma for nearly three weeks. His health had rapidly deteriorated due to underlying conditions. "We had lost hope," his sister Zainab told The National.
The coronavirus poses a dilemma that Muslims all around the world now have to face
After undergoing stem cell therapy in conjunction with traditional Covid-19 treatments, Mr Rodhile was able to recover, but he was brought back from the brink of death. His story is one of incredible resilience. It is also a reminder of the terrible suffering that may await others like him, should one lower their guard and endanger their loved ones, even unintentionally.
With the last days of Ramadan and Eid on the horizon, let us remain cautious and continue to connect with our families and friends virtually and over the phone. In the absence of a vaccine or a cure, precaution is our greatest line of defence.
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
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CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
