The patient was taken from Delma Island to Abu Dhabi on an air amublance. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Police
The patient was taken from Delma Island to Abu Dhabi on an air amublance. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Police
The patient was taken from Delma Island to Abu Dhabi on an air amublance. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Police
The patient was taken from Delma Island to Abu Dhabi on an air amublance. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Police

Health

Abu Dhabi Police fly ill Covid-19 patient from Delma Island

The man in his 50s was taken in an isolation chamber to a city hospital

Gillian Duncan
Gillian Duncan

June 02, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

A Covid-19 patient in need of urgent hospital treatment was flown by helicopter from a remote Abu Dhabi island to the capital.

Abu Dhabi Police's air wing carried the seriously-ill Asian man from Delma Island in an isolation capsule to protect others on board.

The resident, who is in his 50s, was taken to Al Rahba Hospital, one of Abu Dhabi’s main hospitals for Covid-19 treatment.

“Abu Dhabi Police Aviation Operations Room had received a report… stating that a person had contracted coronavirus on Delma Island and needed care,” the force said.

“The air ambulance took off immediately and provided him with the necessary medical care while he was transferred by helicopter from Dalma Island to Al Rahba Hospital to receive the necessary treatment.”

The capsules, unveiled last year, help ensure paramedics and those transferring patients are protected from exposure to the virus, the force said.

Delma Island is located about 40 kilometres off the coast and about 290km to the west of Abu Dhabi city.

The former pearl diving hub is one of the oldest known settlements in the UAE.

Today it is home to about 10,000 people, many of whom work as fishermen or on the island's farms.

Abu Dhabi's door-to-door Covid-19 testing squad

A team of medics, volunteers and police officers in central Abu Dhabi during a nighttime testing drive. Farha Sameer Baker, right, is head of operations at Tamouh Health Care. All photos by Victor Besa / The National
A team of medics, volunteers and police officers in central Abu Dhabi during a nighttime testing drive. Farha Sameer Baker, right, is head of operations at Tamouh Health Care. All photos by Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi's government has run door-to-door testing since May 2020. The intention is to identify and isolate cases and drive down community transmissions.
Abu Dhabi's government has run door-to-door testing since May 2020. The intention is to identify and isolate cases and drive down community transmissions.
Maram Herzallah conducts a test on a resident in the corridor outside her home.
Maram Herzallah conducts a test on a resident in the corridor outside her home.
About 15,000 people a day are tested by the team across Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain.
About 15,000 people a day are tested by the team across Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain.
Medics work with the police given that they often have to close streets for periods of time.
Medics work with the police given that they often have to close streets for periods of time.
Nurse Maram Herzallah has her PPE gear checked by a colleague before starting her shift for the night.
Nurse Maram Herzallah has her PPE gear checked by a colleague before starting her shift for the night.
Screening staff are volunteers but most work in the emergency services or in hospitals by day.
Screening staff are volunteers but most work in the emergency services or in hospitals by day.
Staff must work diligently to process thousands of samples. People receive their results on the government's Al Hosn tracing app.
Staff must work diligently to process thousands of samples. People receive their results on the government's Al Hosn tracing app.
Police work with medics to perform door-to-door testing on an Abu Dhabi street.
Police work with medics to perform door-to-door testing on an Abu Dhabi street.
The crew is 100 per cent mobile and carries all the equipment they need to test thousands of people each night.
The crew is 100 per cent mobile and carries all the equipment they need to test thousands of people each night.
The nature of their work means changing their PPE gear frequently.
The nature of their work means changing their PPE gear frequently.
Medics sort through Emirates IDs, which are needed to store data and deliver results.
Medics sort through Emirates IDs, which are needed to store data and deliver results.
A group of residents are tested inside one of the crew's screening vans. Volunteers avoid going into people's homes as a precaution.
A group of residents are tested inside one of the crew's screening vans. Volunteers avoid going into people's homes as a precaution.
Staff at a dry cleaners receive a nasal swab test.
Staff at a dry cleaners receive a nasal swab test.
A police officer stores samples in a cool box until they can be processed.
A police officer stores samples in a cool box until they can be processed.
A shop worker is tested by a medic.
A shop worker is tested by a medic.
The volunteers cover several areas of the city each week.
The volunteers cover several areas of the city each week.
Volunteers says they are proud to play their part in tackling the pandemic and driving down cases.
Volunteers says they are proud to play their part in tackling the pandemic and driving down cases.
How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

more from Janine di Giovanni
THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Whiile you're here
RESULTS

5pm: Rated Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Hawafez, Connor Beasley, Abubakar Daud

6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Tair, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner: Son Of Normandy, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash

On Women's Day
Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.

MATCH INFO

England 241-3 (20 ovs)

Malan 130 no, Morgan 91

New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)

Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47

England win by 76 runs

Series level at 2-2

UAE