A medical worker collects a swab sample from a passenger for a RT-PCR Coronavirus test at the Muscat international airport in the Omani capital on October 1, 2020. / AFP / MOHAMMED MAHJOUB
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a passenger for a RT-PCR Coronavirus test at the Muscat international airport in the Omani capital on October 1, 2020. / AFP / MOHAMMED MAHJOUB
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a passenger for a RT-PCR Coronavirus test at the Muscat international airport in the Omani capital on October 1, 2020. / AFP / MOHAMMED MAHJOUB
A medical worker collects a swab sample from a passenger for a RT-PCR Coronavirus test at the Muscat international airport in the Omani capital on October 1, 2020. / AFP / MOHAMMED MAHJOUB

Oman doctor says Covid-19 is causing mental-health crisis for medical staff

The National

October 14, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The number of medical workers needing mental-health services has risen sharply in Oman as Covid-19 cases continue to rise, a top doctor said.

“The number of medical staff who suffer from anxiety and insomnia and are in need of psychological care has increased recently. There is a limit to what medical staff can deal with,” Dr Faryal Al Lawati, the head of Communicable Diseases at the government-owned Royal Hospital said on Oman state television.

On Wednesday, Oman reported 563 new infections and eight deaths. The total number of infected people has now hit 107,776 and 1,061 have died from the pandemic since the start of the year.

So far, 93,908 people have recovered from the virus.

Coronavirus around the Middle East 

Omanis, wearing protective face masks, sit on the corniche in the capital Muscat, during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Omanis, wearing protective face masks, sit on the corniche in the capital Muscat, during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Omanis, wearing protective face masks, sit in a seafront cafe in the capital Muscat, during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Omanis, wearing protective face masks, sit in a seafront cafe in the capital Muscat, during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Palestinian women takes a selfie at sunset in Gaza city amid strict restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP
Palestinian women takes a selfie at sunset in Gaza city amid strict restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP
Women chat while enjoy their time at a beach side cafe in Gaza City. AP Photo
Women chat while enjoy their time at a beach side cafe in Gaza City. AP Photo
An Iraqi Kurdish woman is tested for Covid-19 at a hospital in the northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which has seen the hights death rates from the novel coronavirus. The virus has hit hard Iraq which more than 375,000 people infected and some 9,500 deaths. AFP
An Iraqi Kurdish woman is tested for Covid-19 at a hospital in the northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which has seen the hights death rates from the novel coronavirus. The virus has hit hard Iraq which more than 375,000 people infected and some 9,500 deaths. AFP
An Iraqi Kurdish medical worker tests samples for Covid-19 at a hospital in the northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which has seen the hights death rates from the novel coronavirus. The virus has hit hard Iraq which more than 375,000 people infected and some 9,500 deaths. AFP
An Iraqi Kurdish medical worker tests samples for Covid-19 at a hospital in the northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, which has seen the hights death rates from the novel coronavirus. The virus has hit hard Iraq which more than 375,000 people infected and some 9,500 deaths. AFP
Students wearing protective face masks maintain social distancing as they attend a class after some schools reopened amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
Students wearing protective face masks maintain social distancing as they attend a class after some schools reopened amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
A man teaches his sons and nephews at home amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
A man teaches his sons and nephews at home amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
A teacher sprays disinfectant to sanitize a classroom after some schools reopened amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
A teacher sprays disinfectant to sanitize a classroom after some schools reopened amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, in Misrata, Libya. REUTERS
People wearing protective face masks against the spread of the novel corona virus, Covid-19, as they travel on a public bus in Ankara. AFP
People wearing protective face masks against the spread of the novel corona virus, Covid-19, as they travel on a public bus in Ankara. AFP
People wearing masks to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, walk in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey's health minister says the country will start to report its total number of coronavirus cases later this week after Ankara was criticized for only releasing figures for patients showing symptoms of infection. AP Photo
People wearing masks to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, walk in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey's health minister says the country will start to report its total number of coronavirus cases later this week after Ankara was criticized for only releasing figures for patients showing symptoms of infection. AP Photo

Also on Wednesday, 64 people were admitted to hospital – an increase of 11 compared with a day earlier. The number of Covid-19 patients currently in hospitals is 542, of whom 216 are in intensive care.

Another senior medical officer in the sultanate called on everyone to support the fight against Covid-19 by adhering to the government rules to help reduce stress on medical staff and hospitals.

“The support they need from you is to stop gathering and that would reduce the pressure and anxiety of the medical staff,” said Dr Nawal Al Mahjiri, head of psychosomatic medicine at the Royal Hospital.

Oman imposed a two-week night curfew this week after the number of people infected by the virus hit at an average of 700 a day in the first 10 days of October compared with 450 a day for the same period in September.

The 8pm to 5am curfew started on October 11 and will end on October 24.

“It is sad to hear that medical staff suffer depression from treating patients but unfortunately many people still don’t take the pandemic seriously. They still gather secretly even in the curfew period in private farms or their homes,” said Khamis Al Adawi, 74, a retired doctor.

Country-size land deals

US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:

Louisiana Purchase

If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.

Florida Purchase Treaty

The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty. 

Alaska purchase

America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of  Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".

The Philippines

At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million. 

US Virgin Islands

It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.

Gwadar

The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees. 

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On Women's Day
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ALL THE RESULTS

Bantamweight

Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.

Catch 74kg

Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.

Strawweight (Female)

Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.

Lightweight

Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.

Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):

1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop

2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia -  £25m: Flop

3). Erik Lamela - Roma -  £25m: Jury still out

4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen -  £25m: Success

5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic -  £21m: Flop

6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar -  £18m: Flop

7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers -  £18m: Flop

8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb -  £17m: Success

9). Paulinho - Corinthians -  £16m: Flop

10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham -  £16m: Success

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
​​​​​​​Penguin 

UAE currency
While you're here
Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

Investing in the future
Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.4-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeight-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E617hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E750Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh630%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

RESULTS

Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO

Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke

Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke

Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO

Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision

Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision

Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO

Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)

Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)

Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision

Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke

Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO

Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E153hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E200Nm%20at%204%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6.3L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh106%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
While you're here
On Women's Day
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO

Quarter-finals

Saturday (all times UAE)

England v Australia, 11.15am 
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm

Sunday

Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)

Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)

OmanCoronavirus