In countries around the world, strict rules put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus are gradually being eased, with varying degrees of incrementalism and haste. Yesterday, the world reached the tragic milestone of 7 million infections globally, with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia both hitting the 100,000 case mark. As coronavirus cases continue to soar around the world, a cautious and sensible approach is merited.
Saudi Arabia’s infection rates have been particularly high over the last few days, in large part due to the kingdom's rigorous testing regime and an approach to public policy driven by transparency and co-operation. The kingdom has collected data about infection rates since the early days of the pandemic, with numbers available city by city and governorate by governorate made entirely public.
Saudi Arabia was also among the first of the Gulf nations to impose restrictions in heavily-impacted areas. Authorities are doing their best to use data to inform their coronavirus response, utilising facts and numbers as an essential tool in the fight against the disease instead of treating open information as a liability.
Riyadh has also provided free testing and medical care for all those infected, and has taken care to communicate its national strategy widely among the general public. Other Gulf nations have implemented a similar approach, with the UAE leading the way when it comes to mass testing and supporting vulnerable communities with free medical assistance and screenings. The UAE has also ensured regular updates on cases, recoveries and testing, providing data essential for public awareness and planning.
Elsewhere in the world, withholding this crucial information has proven to be potentially catastrophic. Brazil is a case in point. Since Friday, Brasilia stopped releasing the overall number of cases and deaths in the country, in addition to erasing past data from the government’s official website. The move was reportedly ordered by President Jair Bolsonaro and has been met with widespread criticism. The most populous Latin American nation has become a global hotspot for the coronavirus, second only to the US in total number of cases with nearly 700,000 people infected.
No matter the strength of any government response to coronavirus, responsibility also lies with the public to curb the virus’s spread and to protect one another from the disease it causes. Individual actions, including wearing masks, are crucial to the next stage in battling the virus.
Saudi authorities are using data to inform their coronavirus response, instead of treating open information as a liability
In late April, Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah warned that up to 200,000 people living in the kingdom could become infected with the coronavirus within weeks if citizens and residents do not respect new public health rules meant to protect them from disease.
“We are at a critical juncture that requires a rising to responsibility as a society” Mr Al Rabiah forewarned. While it may be difficult for some essential workers to practise physical distancing or to work from home, the rest of society bears a responsibility to abide by new public health rules in order to ensure that all of the efforts gone into fighting the pandemic are not wasted. A holistic approach to this global health crisis is crucial. This includes countries tailoring their strategies to targeted areas that require more attention, as well as strengthening global co-operation through data sharing and open communication. All countries have a responsibility to fight this pandemic.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
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
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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)
Sole survivors
Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
