More supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are expected in Dubai soon, while Russia’s Sputnik V and any other approved inoculations will be used as needed.
Dr Amer Sharif, head of Dubai’s Covid-19 command centre, said the goal was to vaccinate 100 per cent of eligible adults by the final three months of 2021.
He also countered reports that hospitals were full. He said the private sector had been instrumental in providing bed capacity recently.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Sunday, the senior official said the government was confident a steady supply of vaccines was in the pipeline.
We've looked at different decisions, whether it's partial lockdown or full lockdown. It's striking the balance
The Pfizer-BioNTech shot was the first to be approved by the World Health Organisation – but sheer demand and the need to keep it frozen at minus 70°C has led to global shortages.
“The Pfizer supply has been a global challenge and we’re no different than any other country,” Dr Sharif said.
“There has been a lot of discussion with the Pfizer reps in the region. We know that there will be new supplies coming in soon. But in addition to Pfizer, the government has made available other vaccines, such as AstraZeneca-Oxford. Any vaccine that has been approved by the health authorities will be made available.”
Dr Sharif was asked by Bloomberg anchor Manus Cranny about the use of Russia’s Sputnik V, which was approved for emergency use by UAE federal authorities last month.
Moscow faced serious questions about the speed at which Sputnik V was tested and trialled – but it now appears to be safe and among the most effective against the coronavirus, The Lancet reported last week.
"The Ministry of Health has approved ... the Sputnik vaccine, which lately published its data in The Lancet," Dr Sharif said.
“Health authorities are study the emerging releases and, based on the approvals, any vaccine that goes through approvals will be made available.”
Coping with the surge
Dr Sharif was asked about the recent spike in which daily cases rose from less than 1,000 in late December to nearly 4,000 last week. Cases have since dropped to about 3,200.
“We’ve been lucky that we have a very successful public-private partnership ... and we’ve been able to be very agile and flexible,” he said.
“Accordingly, the system is now able to keep up with all of the people who require treatment in the emirate of Dubai, whether it’s additional beds for Covid ... for moderate and severe cases. We’re before the curve.
“We’re very comfortable with the current capacity available to deal with Covid cases across the system and we’ll make sure that no one in Dubai who needs to be treated will be denied access.”
Second lockdown was considered
Dr Sharif was asked whether tougher measures on personal freedom, including a return to a stay-at-home order first imposed last April, was considered in response to the recent surge.
“We’ve looked at different decisions, whether it’s partial lockdown or full lockdown, heightening our precautionary measures or lifting some restrictions,” he said.
“So far, the current situation is what the leadership has decided and it’s striking the balance again between the safety and well-being of our people, and also social well-being and economic sustainability.
“We’re monitoring the numbers and we’re monitoring the rolling averages and the healthcare [situation]. And that’s where we come in with decisions based on data and based on science.”
Are most virus cases in Dubai?
Dr Sharif declined to give figures, but suggested it was expected that Dubai, the largest Emirati city and commercial capital of the Middle East, would have a large proportion of cases.
“The nature of Dubai, the size of Dubai, the population density ... as expected there will be numbers that contribute towards the overall number of the country,” he said.
“We also need to be aware that the nature of the city, being a service-driven city. We need to make sure that we strike the balance between the numbers of cases, and also the social and economic well-being of our people.”
Hitting herd immunity this year
Dr Sharif, who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last month, reiterated the goal set by federal officials of vaccinating 50 per cent of the eligible population – which does not include children – by the end of March.
He said the longer-term plan is to hit 100 per cent in the final three months of 2021.
“We’ve seen a great response from people and I’d like to thank them for their sense of responsibility,” he said.
“We’re planning for 50 per cent [by end of March] and we’re planning for 100 per cent of eligible adults by Q4 of this year.”
“The health authorities and all of our colleagues are working towards making that happen. And I would encourage everyone to continue to be vaccinated.”
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Palestine and Israel - live updates
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
