• The Third Place Cafe on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi has a sticker to remind customers of Covid-19 precautions. Victor Besa / The National
    The Third Place Cafe on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi has a sticker to remind customers of Covid-19 precautions. Victor Besa / The National
  • An 'X' reminds people of the need for physical distancing at the Third Place Cafe. Victor Besa / The National
    An 'X' reminds people of the need for physical distancing at the Third Place Cafe. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Third Place Cafe in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The Third Place Cafe in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National
    Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National
  • Fitness buff Natalie Navikova exercises at Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi at Al Bandar. Victor Besa / The National
    Fitness buff Natalie Navikova exercises at Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi at Al Bandar. Victor Besa / The National
  • CrossFit class at Vogue Fitness Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    CrossFit class at Vogue Fitness Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Hotel beaches are now open to guests at the Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Victor Besa / The National
    Hotel beaches are now open to guests at the Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Victor Besa / The National
  • Residents wear face masks as they walk in Abu Dhabi city centre. Victor Besa / The National
    Residents wear face masks as they walk in Abu Dhabi city centre. Victor Besa / The National
  • People walk along near the Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
    People walk along near the Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man on his e-scooter travels along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets. Victor Besa / The National
    A man on his e-scooter travels along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets. Victor Besa / The National

Coronavirus: UAE records 239 new cases


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The UAE recorded 239 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, taking the overall tally of infections to 895,018.

Another 431 people overcame the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 876,495.

No deaths have been reported since March 7 and this toll remains at 2,302.

The latest cases were confirmed after 256,333 additional PCR tests were conducted over the past 24 hours.

Mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives has helped the UAE to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Authorities have confirmed 100 per cent of the eligible population have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, with 97.44 per cent fully vaccinated.

Masks remain mandatory indoors across the UAE and officials have encouraged people to regularly sanitise their hands and avoid crowded places.

But rules are also lifting as the UAE cautiously emerges from the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the UAE said it would allow unvaccinated Emiratis to travel overseas from Saturday, April 16.

Citizens must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel under the updated Covid-19 safety measures announced on Wednesday during the UAE biweekly Covid-19 briefing.

Travellers under the age of 16 who are not vaccinated will not be required to take a PCR test on arrival in the UAE.

Authorities had banned unvaccinated citizens from travelling from January 10 as part of efforts to limit the spread of the virus.

The ban came into effect after the Omicron coronavirus variant prompted a surge in infection rates around the world.

Coronavirus pandemic around the world - in pictures

  • A young woman receives a Pfizer jab in Diepsloot Township near Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
    A young woman receives a Pfizer jab in Diepsloot Township near Johannesburg, South Africa. AP Photo
  • A girl wearing a face mask rides on a merry-go-round at the Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany. AP Photo
    A girl wearing a face mask rides on a merry-go-round at the Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany. AP Photo
  • People travel on a London underground tube train on the Jubilee Line, in London, during the pandemic. AP Photo
    People travel on a London underground tube train on the Jubilee Line, in London, during the pandemic. AP Photo
  • People wait for the tram in Vienna, Austria, amid the crisis. AP Photo
    People wait for the tram in Vienna, Austria, amid the crisis. AP Photo
  • A woman passes by an empty terrace in the Marrolles quarter in Brussels, Belgium. AP Photo
    A woman passes by an empty terrace in the Marrolles quarter in Brussels, Belgium. AP Photo
  • A teacher gives online lessons via webcam at the temporarily closed elementary school in the town of Trebisov, eastern Slovakia. TASR via AP
    A teacher gives online lessons via webcam at the temporarily closed elementary school in the town of Trebisov, eastern Slovakia. TASR via AP
  • Hairdressers and clients wear masks in Amsterdam, Netherlands. AFP
    Hairdressers and clients wear masks in Amsterdam, Netherlands. AFP
  • A man disinfects seats for tourists at a beach in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. EPA
    A man disinfects seats for tourists at a beach in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. EPA
  • Israeli boy Itamar, 5, receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Meuhedet Healthcare Services Organisation in Tel Aviv. AFP
    Israeli boy Itamar, 5, receives a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Meuhedet Healthcare Services Organisation in Tel Aviv. AFP
  • A patient suffering from Covid-19 is admitted in the intensive care unit of the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters
    A patient suffering from Covid-19 is admitted in the intensive care unit of the Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Reuters
  • A health worker prepares to administer the AstraZeneca jab in Abuja, Nigeria. AFP
    A health worker prepares to administer the AstraZeneca jab in Abuja, Nigeria. AFP
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

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Bio

Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)

Saturday

Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)

Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)

Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)

Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)

Sunday

Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
The Bio

Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.

Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.

Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.

Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.

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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Updated: April 15, 2022, 10:30 AM