A top virologist and advisor on the pandemic to the European Union has called for the establishment of a global surveillance system modelled on the World Health Organisation to detect virus outbreaks.
Professor Peter Piot, the director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), told The National that global coordination of disease prevention should be the legacy of the pandemic.
The body envisaged by Prof Piot would provide a platform for cooperation between countries to ensure that both an early alert mechanism and the response was transparent, timely and uniform.
"I don't expect that the body would do the job instead of, say, the Abu Dhabi and the UK authorities but it would ensure there was sharing of information, carried out the task of making sure everybody knows and produce the right guidance in response," he said. "I think there needs to be multi-national institution and mechanism because we've seen so dramatically there's no borders to disease and no one country can fix this."
Now the question is how to we live alongside this virus
Renowned for his work as one of the virologists who discovered Ebola, Prof Piot, 71, was seriously ill earlier this year having contracted Covid-19. The experience of the longer term effects of Covid-19 on many of those who contract it makes him leery about the choices ahead as countries adjust to the virus threat.
The so-called second wave or recent rise in infections is coming earlier than he anticipated for a seasonally driven disease, which is a concern even if such a high proportion of those infected are younger and less likely to succumb.
"In the old days epidemics ended, there were no vaccines, there were no treatments and they didn't even know the concept of contagion," he told The National. "Now the question is how to we live alongside this virus. No restrictions means it spreads until there's not much left to infect but the cost would be very high in our societies because we have so many older people and that's too hard a decision for policymakers to take."
Having played a major role at UNAIDS addressing that disease and with his work in Congo and elsewhere on Ebola, Prof Piot takes encourage from the rapid progress in addressing the Covid-19 threats.
First there is the discovery of therapeutic treatments for patients trying to fight off the coronavirus. In particular the discovery of the effectiveness of Remdesivir in killing the virus if given early enough and the steroid Dexamethasone, which stops a immune system overload in the later stages of the infection.
He expects more therapies to be on stream by the end of the year.
While observing the test and trace system for suppressing the spread of coronavirus has been a "real fiasco" in Britain where he lives, Prof Piot is more encouraged by efforts to bring rapid result tests to a mass market. With hundreds of millions of tests on the production line countries could go some way to regimes of regular testing.
"I think we will soon have point of care tests that will give results in 10-20 minutes," he said. "Testing is key. Having to wait two days for test results doesn't make sense. What we need is the ability for regular testing of everybody so that you detect infections early and that only works if you have immediate results."
Prof Piot cautions that development of a vaccine looks encouraging but won't be a "silver bullet" because the first vaccines may not be 100 per cent effective even as they ameliorate the worst effects of the disease.
"It needs to be safe first of all. We're going to inject biological materials into billions of people -- that's never been done at that scale and we don't want to take any risk there," he said. "I really welcome the statement by the main vaccine producers recently to say 'we will not take any short cuts'.
"It's really important that people will feel that have been no shortcuts for political reasons or whatever and they can trust."
Should the vaccines work that will not be the end of the journey, Prof Piot feels. The question of how long immunity will last, if there will need to be vaccine drives every year or two years or five years will have to be resolved.
And the long term legacies will not just be in public health but far more wide-ranging, including the possible demise of a handshake greeting. "That's just maybe one of the reasons Asian countries have really done better because they had made cultural changes already."
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
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
And%20Just%20Like%20That...
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Various%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Cynthia%20Nixon%2C%20Kristin%20Davis%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
