Hessa Street, Dubai. Monday, March 30, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hessa Street, Dubai. Monday, March 30, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hessa Street, Dubai. Monday, March 30, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Hessa Street, Dubai. Monday, March 30, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Feedback

Coronavirus: hats off to the UAE leadership for managing this with skill, seriousness and empathy

Our readers have their say about staying home and what a great job the authorities are doing to make citizens and residents feel safe and cared for

Letters to the editor

March 30, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Get serious about staying put at home

With reference to Coronavirus latest: UAE confirms 102 new cases of Covid-19 (March 29): the numbers might go up because more people are getting tested. We have access to the test and that is a good thing.

Effie Georgiadou-Ribott, Abu Dhabi 

Please tell us more about the recoveries. A little hope would go a long way.

Dave Cadman, Dubai

The country is doing its best. With these measures in place, the UAE leaders will bring us all to the safe side of the shore.

Deneilia Pereira, Dubai

Everyone needs to comply with the lockdown. My husband goes everyday to the supermarket and I just sit home praying with my 16-month-old twins.

Anupriya D Budhwani, Dubai

May as well make the best of self-isolation

I am a banker and an avid reader of The National. With reference to Sophie Prideaux's report Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has a message for Dubai residents: 'stay at home' (March 28): my heart goes out to those ailing from the virus and families of those who have died.

In light of the gravity of the situation, if you are required to stay at home for a few weeks, so be it. Some things are beyond our control. Now is the time to tend to hobbies and catch up on reading. Amidst the chaos lies the gift of time and self-reflection.

Lovesh Miranda, Dubai

To the leaders of the UAE: you are doing a great job

With regard to the report Sheikh Mohamed to open more drive-through Covid-19 test centres across UAE (March 30):

thank you to our leaders who in these testing times have made us feel safe regardless of our nationalities.

I know in these uncertain times if anybody falls sick here they will get the best of treatment.

Thank you to our government departments for ensuring the health and safety of all citizens and providing the hospitals with the best of equipment and supplies. Thank you to the ministry of education for continuing to give our children the best of education online, which is an amazing achievement.

We feel safer here than in our native countries where healthcare systems are unfortunately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sick people.

The world is in crisis but we feel secure, humbled and we appreciate the outstanding job you are doing looking after all who live in this the land of tolerance. Shukran.

Patricia M, Abu Dhabi

Read more from Aya Iskandarani
more from Janine di Giovanni
While you're here
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

Scorecard:

England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)

South Africa 361

England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining

Abu DhabiDubai