Chinese UAE residents have spoken of a mammoth coronavirus testing drive in their hometown of Qingdao.
At least nine million people are being tested over five days as authorities in the eastern Shandong province port city tackle an outbreak.
Some of the residents were on holiday there and have been tested, while others checked in on family and friends in China.
The drive started on Monday and it represents the largest testing campaign since China examined 11 million people in Wuhan, where coronavirus was first reported.
Everyone needs to do the tests, so people have been queueing up from 7am
"The government said everyone needs to do the tests, and so people have been queueing up from 7am," Dubai resident Yong Le Song told The National.
“The most important thing is we must cut off the transmission route."
The 29-year old, his wife Sophie and his parents all tested negative after taking the throat swab tests on Monday, and Mr Yong, who worked with Emirates, will return to the UAE to train as a pilot next month.
"Only with thorough screening we can find those who are infected," said Mr Yong.
"There may be people who don’t have any symptoms, they don’t have fever or feel sick, but with testing we can prevent a great challenge so no one gets infected later.”
Qingdao is popular with tourists for China’s best-known brewery and its beaches.
Only a dozen Covid-19 cases, first detected in a chest hospital, were reported over the weekend. Of those, half were asymptomatic. But authorities are taking no chances as the country returned to work this week after eight days off for National Day celebrations. The new outbreak ended a clean streak of more than two months without local virus transmission in China.
People stood in huge queues at screening stations set up outside their apartment blocks as announcements went out over TV and social media asking people to come forward for the swab tests.
Chinese residents in the UAE, such as Abu Dhabi-based Fei Cong, are also checking in with family.
“They tests are being done so there is no panic after National Day because people were travelling everywhere,” said the 28-year-old postdoctoral student in marine biology with New York University Abu Dhabi.
“There were only a few cases but this will show people it is safe. There is no need to go to a hospital because there are hundreds of places to test near your home.
“Before the vaccine is out, we can only test, be careful and wear masks to stay safe.”
Authorities said no further infections had been identified after about three million tests were completed by Tuesday.
Officials said the city had a low risk of community-level spread from cases first detected at the Qindgao Chest Hospital. The hospital was shut down on Sunday.
Disease control experts in cities such as Beijing asked citizens to report if they had travelled to Qingdao since September 27 or if they were living with people from the city.
People have been advised to delay travel to Qingdao.
Miao Yu returned to Dubai from China in August after giving birth to a boy. Her mother travelled back with her to help. Her 58-year-old father, Yu, tested negative on Tuesday.
“My father is healthy and strong so when I spoke to him about the test, he wanted to know more about cases in the UAE. I told him we are keeping safe here.
“Testing is very necessary because Qingdao wants to tell everyone in China that it is safe. This is about safety.”
The virus is largely under control in China. Officials have said most new cases were brought by people travelling in from overseas.
According to the World Health Organisation, China has reported more than 91,000 infections and 4,746 deaths.
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
OPENING FIXTURES
Saturday September 12
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Fulham v Arsenal
Liverpool v Leeds United
Tottenham v Everton
West Brom v Leicester
West Ham v Newcastle
Monday September 14
Brighton v Chelsea
Sheffield United v Wolves
To be rescheduled
Burnley v Manchester United
Manchester City v Aston Villa
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MANDOOB
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Ali%20Kalthami%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Mohammed%20Dokhei%2C%20Sarah%20Taibah%2C%20Hajar%20Alshammari%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
