A new field hospital set up outside Abu Dhabi city opened its doors to coronavirus patients on Thursday.
Located in the Razeen area, the high-tech facility stretches over 46,500 square feet and is dedicated to treating workers from nearby labour accommodation.
"This is to lift the burden off regular hospitals," Maj Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi, a member of the Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee, told The National as he toured the site on Wednesday night.
“The aim was to build it near labour camps in the outskirts of the city, so it would be easier and quicker to transfer patients."
The numbers may be growing, but many people test positive without suffering from any symptoms. The patients with severe symptoms are few
The hospital has 200 beds for regular Covid-19 patients plus an intensive care unit with 50 beds.
“Previously, all cases were transferred to regular Seha hospitals, which placed a lot of pressure on the health sector,” he said, in reference to the public hospital operator Seha.
“So the committee decided to introduce its own field hospitals to treat patients with severe symptoms who require medical care.”
Maj Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi, also director general of Abu Dhabi Police, said he does not expect the hospital to be fully occupied for some time and that there were relatively few serious cases.
“To be honest, from what I’ve seen as a member with the committee, the patients with severe symptoms are few," he said.
"The numbers may be growing, but many people test positive without suffering from any symptoms.
“However, we have to be ready.”
The hospital was built in nine days and was fully equipped and ready to receive patients on Wednesday night.
The corridors and wards have been painted with fresh bright colours, with drawings on the walls.
Beds have been separated with colourful curtains, and with each mini-room comes a flat screen TV with a variety of channels for both adults and children, an iPad device and high-speed internet to keep the patients entertained during their treatment.
Headphones are connected to the beds so patients don’t bother one another.
Next to each bed there is a coffee table decorated with flowers, and beside the bed there is artwork on the wall.
“We will try to play spa music in the background,” said one of the nurses, “especially in the ICU unit.”
Like any regular hospital, the facility has been equipped with examination rooms, x-ray units, pharmacies, storage areas, restrooms, toilets and food outlets.
The medical staff includes 50 doctors and 80 nurses, in addition to 50 administrators to manage patients.
Al Razeen was one of five field hospitals planned primarily for blue collar workers.
“This is the first one to open,” said Major Gen Al Sharifi.
The second one will open in Al Mafraq “within a few days”, followed by a third field hospital in Mussaffah.
Similar facilities are expected to follow in Al Dhafra and Al Ain.
“Across the five field hospitals there will be a total of 1,200 beds approximately, and around 225 ICU beds,” he said.
The hospitals are air-conditioned in a way that prevents the spread of the virus.
Negative air pressure systems prevent the spread of germs through the air through ventilation ducts.
“The field hospital is mostly dedicated for workers, however, it could receive anyone if needed,” the police chief said.
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Results
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mezmar, Adam McLean (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: AF Ajwad, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Gold Silver, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.
4pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m; Winner: Atrash, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez.
4.30pm: Gulf Cup Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Momtaz, Saif Al Balushi, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Al Mushtashar, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Men’s singles
Group A: Son Wan-ho (Kor), Lee Chong Wei (Mas), Ng Long Angus (HK), Chen Long (Chn)
Group B: Kidambi Srikanth (Ind), Shi Yugi (Chn), Chou Tien Chen (Tpe), Viktor Axelsen (Den)
Women’s Singles
Group A: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn), Pusarla Sindhu (Ind), Sayaka Sato (Jpn), He Bingjiao (Chn)
Group B: Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe), Sung Hi-hyun (Kor), Ratchanok Intanon (Tha), Chen Yufei (Chn)
The%20specs
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More on Coronavirus in France
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The years Ramadan fell in May
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
