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The number of Covid-19 tests on children is set to soar now school has started, after UAE authorities announced that weekly PCR testing will become mandatory for unvaccinated teenage children.
Parents have a month-long grace period to get their children fully vaccinated, but once that is over, even vaccinated pupils over 12 will need to be tested every month, as will schoolchildren aged between three and 12 who have not been inoculated.
The UAE federal decision appears to largely cover government-run schools, with private schools in Dubai and Sharjah setting out their own protocols.
Many parents fear the PCR nasal swab test is uncomfortable for their young children, but saliva tests are permitted in children aged between 3 and 16 years in the UAE, "if the collection of a normal PCR is not possible".
The saliva tests involve a throat swab, where a cotton bud on a long stick is inserted into the back of the mouth and gently rubbed against the wall of the throat.
Research shows the accuracy of saliva tests are on a par with the traditional nasal swab.
Saliva tests for children in Abu Dhabi
Saliva tests are available in G42 healthcare centres and Seha drive-through screening centres for school pupils free of charge until September 30.
Free nasal Covid-19 PCR tests are also available in all government and private screening centres.
Appointments can be made via the Seha app, or by calling 800 50.
Some private clinics contacted by The National suggested they could offer throat swab saliva tests for children, but many said they did not, including the Mediclinic customer service centre.
VPS Healthcare told The National they could only provide saliva tests if a paediatric doctor decided that a nasal PCR test was not suitable for the child. VPS owns and manages 23 hospitals and more than 125 medical centres in the UAE, including Burjeel, Lifeline and Medeor.
Saliva tests for children in Dubai
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) approved the use of saliva tests for children in November last year.
Throat swabs are widely available at the DHA's 12 testing centres throughout the emirate, and can be booked via the DHA app, or by calling 800 342.
There are also two walk-in facilities, at Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre. These locations do not require appointments, and are open Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 5pm, and from Thursday to Saturday 10am to 7pm.
Covid-19 throat swab saliva tests are also available at many private clinics, including:
Healthbay Umm Suqeim - PCR testing available on a walk-in basis from Saturday to Thursday, from 8am to 6pm.
MenaLabs Umm Suqeim - drive-through PCR testing. No appointment necessary but registration preferred.
Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, Mediclinic City Hospital and Mediclinic Welcare Hospital have drive-through facilities offering PCR testing 24/7, with no appointment necessary.
Mediclinic Dubai Mall - PCR Testing, appointments only. Available Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 6pm and Friday from 12pm to 5pm.
Mediclinic Al Sufouh, Mediclinic Arabian Ranches and Mediclinic Meadows offer PCR testing – appointments only. Available weekdays and Saturday, 8am to 7pm and on Fridays 8am to 4pm.
Mediclinic Ibn Battuta - PCR testing – appointments only. Available weekdays and Saturdays, 8am to 7pm and on Fridays 12pm to 7pm.
Mediclinic Mirdif - Walk-in only for PCR testing between 8.30am to 8pm from Saturday to Thursday and Friday from 3.30pm to 7pm.
Mediclinic Al Qusais - Walk-in only for PCR testing between 8am to 7pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 10am to 4pm on Fridays.
Mediclinic Deira - Walk-in only for PCR testing between 9am and 7pm from Saturday to Thursday. Advance booking can be done for groups on Friday from 2pm to 6pm.
Mediclinic Springs - PCR testing – appointments only. Available weekdays and Saturday, 8am to 7pm. No PCR testing on Fridays.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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More on animal trafficking
The specs: 2018 Jaguar F-Type Convertible
Price, base / as tested: Dh283,080 / Dh318,465
Engine: 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 295hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.2L / 100km
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
HOW TO WATCH
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
