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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.
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
NEW ARRIVALS
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) - £45.9m
Bernardo Silva (Monaco) - £45m
Ederson Moraes (Benfica) - £36m
Danilo (Real Madrid) - £27m
Douglas Luiz (Vasco de Gama) - £10.8m
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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Teams
India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
