A store in Bur Dubai displays an offer on face masks. Officials have taken steps to drive down infections across the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A store in Bur Dubai displays an offer on face masks. Officials have taken steps to drive down infections across the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A store in Bur Dubai displays an offer on face masks. Officials have taken steps to drive down infections across the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A store in Bur Dubai displays an offer on face masks. Officials have taken steps to drive down infections across the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus: UAE reports 3,939 new Covid-19 cases as 4,536 recover


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The UAE reported 3,939 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, raising the total infection number to 289,086.

Recoveries far exceeded new infections, with 4,536 people cleared of Covid-19.

This brought the total number of recoveries to 263,730.

It was the eighth consecutive day that recoveries outstripped new cases, with a new record recovery figure set.

Six people died of related complications, taking the death toll to 811.

Wednesday's cases were detected after another 174,016 tests were conducted across the country.

The UAE has carried out more than 25 million PCR and DPI tests since the outbreak.

Active cases stand at 24,545.

The country has intensified its vaccination campaign and aims to reach 50 per cent of the population by the end of March.

On Wednesday, authorities said 86,770 more vaccine doses were administered across the country. A total of 2.76m doses have been administered since the vaccine drive began last month. This is the equivalent of 27.95 per 100 people.

Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm are being administered while Russia's Sputnik V is approved for emergency use. Their use brings hope the pandemic could be ending.

But health authorities said people will probably need an annual Covid-19 vaccine. Although the virus does not mutate as quickly as the common flu, the emergence of variants that can evade antibodies suggests repeated vaccination may be required to fight different strains, experts said.

“The more mutant the virus, the more is the possible need to vaccinate annually against it,” said Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the UAE’s government health authorities. It is envisaged that the Covid vaccine could become as common as the annual flu shot.

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One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence