Coronavirus: UAE announces 484 new cases and two deaths as more than 25,000 further tests are conducted


Chris Maxwell
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Latest: UAE reports 490 new cases on Tuesday taking total to 7,775 

The UAE recorded 484 new coronavirus cases on Monday, pushing the country's total to 7,265.

A further 74 patients made full recoveries from Covid-19, bringing the number to have beaten the virus up to 1,360.

Another two people - both from Asian countries - died after contracting the virus. A total of 43 patients have died in the Emirates since the outbreak emerged.

Speaking at the country's regular media briefing, Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the UAE health sector, said the UAE had conducted another 25,795 tests.

Dr Al Hosani issued a plea to mothers to ensure their children receive all required vaccinations to boost their health.

"The clear message to all mothers is they must make sure children are vaccinated, regardless of the situation. There can be no delay," she said.

"The UAE is keen to provide all required vaccinations to all sections of the community, children and adults, to protect against communicable diseases."

Asked to comment on concerns that recovered patients could still contract the virus again, Dr Al Hosani asserted that many such instances could be put down to insufficient testing.

She said many patients believed to have been clear of the virus could in fact still have been infected when released from hospital.

She said health officials in the UAE are adopting strong measures to ensure patients are virus-free.

"It has been the case that people have not recovered fully and this relates to accuracy of screening in hospitals.

"We repeat tests at least twice before patients are discharged."

During the briefing, Sheikh Omar Al Darei, member of the UAE Fatwa Council, confirmed an earlier announcement on Monday regarding fasting during Ramadan.

He reiterated that healthcare workers would be allowed to break fast during working hours if they felt it would "weaken their immunity and affect patients."

Covid-19 patients would also be granted the opportunity to exempt themselves from fasting during the holy month, as could elderly members of the community suffering from serious illnesses.

"Those who are capable of fasting should fast," said Sheikh Al Darei.

He reaffirmed that mosques would remain closed during Ramadan and Eid prayer gatherings would not take place.

Earlier on Monday, the UAE Fatwa Council stated that Eid Al Fitr prayers, which are held at fajr – or sunrise – could be performed individually in homes without a sermon, should the situation not ease by then.

Families who live in the same house can pray together but the council said congregating to perform the prayer could endanger lives, which is strictly forbidden in Islam, so should be avoided.

Mohammed Al Fahim, spokesman for Emirates Red Crescent, said during the briefing that the charitable organisation was working hard to support people affected by the pandemic.

He said they have supplied children with devices to continue their online learning, distributed sanitisers and masks to the health sector and handed out meals to people in need. ERC has also worked with landlords to help exempt people from paying rent.

While you're here

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How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
England v South Africa schedule
  • First Test: Starts Thursday, Lord's, 2pm (UAE)
  • Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
  • Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
  • Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
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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

Previous men's records
  • 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
  • 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
  • 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
  • 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
  • 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
  • 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
  • 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
  • 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
  • 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
  • 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

War and the virus
Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.