I write to you in reference to Ramola Talwar Badam's piece Coronavirus: Indian nurses tell of emotional farewells after answering 'call to serve' in UAE (May 11): I just want to say thank you to all the nurses for their service. We are so proud of all of you.
Prajwal Shetty, Dubai
Lessons from Kerala: preparedness of health care services
With reference to the op-ed by Johaan Chacko Coronavirus: What Kerala can teach us all about flattening the curve (May 8): this was an incisive piece. An important point made by the writer was that Kerala was well prepared to fight Covid-19 as it had ramped up its health services over a period of time, with "hospital bed availability rates that resemble high-income countries more than those of the developing world".
Covid-19 should also lead nations to introspect on how much they are spending on the health care of its citizens. As people were infected by the virus in many countries, they were traumatised about whether they would be admitted to the hospital, permitted a bed or a ventilator. Many patents died trying to find a bed in a hospital. Doctors in Europe had to make hard decisions about which patient to give the limited ventilators to. These are agonising thoughts.
Many countries spend as low as one or two per cent of their gross domestic product annually on health care. India, for instance, spends about 1.28 per cent of its GDP on public health, according to the latest National Health Profile data. The US spends 18 per cent of its gross domestic product, which is over $10,000 per person a year.
There is also a desperate shortage of ICU beds and ventilators. After the Covid-19 challenge, every country should ensure that it spends at least five per cent of its GDP on public health so that in an emergency there are adequate hospitals, beds, staff and protective equipment.
Nations spend billions of dollars on arms every year. We need to ponder afresh. Fighting a contagious, galloping disease to save human lives, is an important battle too.
Rajendra Aneja, Dubai
Has some of the sheen worn off holidays and long weekends?
With regard to your report Eid holiday dates announced for public-sector workers (May 11): as much as people were looking forward to a long weekend, annual holidays and a break from work, in these globally desperate times with unemployment rates soaring and a lot of people trying to secure a job to go to work, long weekends seem to have diminished somewhat in meaning.
Omer Faruk, Singapore
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The five pillars of Islam
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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.
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
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
