The government has urged the public to take “social responsibility” this holiday season amid a significant rise in Covid-19 cases.
Officials asked people to wear masks, follow social distancing rules and exercise caution at social occasions, but set out no further restrictions during the televised briefing on Tuesday evening.
Daily infections have risen ninefold since December 6, when only 48 cases were reported.
On Tuesday, the Emirates reported 452 new infections, reversing the downward trajectory seen from October until two weeks ago.
“We call upon members of society to co-operate and adhere to preventive measures by committing to wearing masks, staying away from crowded places and maintaining personal hygiene,” said Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, a health spokeswoman for the government.
“Society’s health is a priority and is everyone’s collective responsibility.
“It’s a social responsibility to preserve the gains that the country has made toward sustainable recovery.”
Cases are rising globally because of the spread of new variants, leading to lockdowns in several countries this week and other restrictions elsewhere.
Dr Al Ghaithi said the UAE’s high vaccination rate – more than 90 per cent is fully immunised – would help to protect the public, but that each person must play a role.
She said thousands of hospital places were available if needed, and that “only 3 per cent of beds are occupied by Covid patients”.
She urged all eligible individuals aged 18 years and above to take the booster dose after six months of the second dose.
“Vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of disease, its complications, and deaths, and have an effective role in stopping mutagens from appearing,” she said.
“The booster dose is important. It significantly boosts the body’s immunity to fight the virus.”
Dr Al Ghaithi reminded the public that being vaccinated did not mean becoming lax in following safety measures, which is critical to fighting the virus.
“We would like to recall that taking the vaccine does not mean not adhering to preventive and precautionary measures such as wearing masks, hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance, and following other approved protocols,” she said.
On Monday, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation, said there was “consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant”, which caused a wave of infections around the world this year.
“It is more likely people vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 could be infected or reinfected,” he said in Geneva.
Dr Tedros called for nations to redouble efforts to help end the pandemic.
Omicron cases have surged in Europe and North America in recent weeks.
It is now the dominant version of the virus in the US, accounting for 73 per cent of new infections last week, federal health officials said on Monday.
Racecard
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
