Coronavirus: We are prepared to face any challenge, says Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince reassures UAE citizens and residents about food and medicine

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has reassured the UAE that the country has enough supplies of food and medicine to address the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said the Emirates was “faring well” thanks to early efforts to contain infection rates.

In a statement on Wam, the government news agency, he argued that the difference between nations who adopted early measures to contain the virus and those which did not were clear to see.

“In the UAE, we have adopted rational and early advanced precautionary measures before other countries around us to stand up to the challenge," he said.

"Therefore, the infection tally in the UAE is less thanks to our early response to contain the virus at its onset.

The UAE has implemented a series of measures over recent weeks aimed at containing the outbreak.

Schools have been closed, events cancelled and residents have been encouraged to practise “social distancing” - a measure that has been proven to slow the spread of the virus in hard-hit countries such as South Korea.

But despite the continuing precautions, some UAE residents have begun stockpiling food and items like toilet paper, repeating scenes of bulk buying seen in other countries.

Sheikh Mohamed urged restraint, however, saying there was no need to stockpile as the UAE had enough supplies.

"There are a lot of things the state is doing which we can't reveal,” he said.

“I'd like to reassure every citizen and resident of the UAE that our country is infinitely able to supply everyone with all the food and medicine they could ever need.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, centre, delivers a speech about the UAE’s coronavirus response, during a Sea Palace barza. All photos by Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Obaid Al Shamsi, Director General of the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority briefs the Sea Palace barza.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, Chairman of Masdar and CEO of ADNOC Group, Ahmed Al Zaabi, UAE Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and other guests, attend a Sea Palace barza which focused on the UAE’s coronavirus response.

Sheikh Mohamed said that safety in the UAE was "paramount priority".

Hessa Buhumaid, UAE Minister of Community Development and Jameela Al Muhairi, UAE Minister of State for Public Education Affairs, attend a Sea Palace barza.

Guests attend a Sea Palace barza.

Guests attend a Sea Palace barza.

Sheikh Mohamed said we won't hesitate to take any further precautionary steps if necessity arises over the coming period.

Sheikh Mohamed said the role the media played in battling the virus was key. He called on outlets to raise awareness and address rumours and fake news.

Sheikh Mohamed said that in such situations, people had to adapt their normal ways of life.

Our traditions are very dear to us but we must be practical during these times," Sheikh Mohamed said.

Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, speaks about the UAE’s Covid-19 response.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed receives a briefing via video conference from the Covid-19 working group at the headquarters of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) (not shown).

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, during a briefing via video conference with the Covid-19 working group at the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and Ali Saeed Al Neyadi receive a briefing via video conference call from the Covid19 working group

Members of the Covid19 working group: Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, left; Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, centre; and Obaid Rashid Al Hassan Al Shamsi, director general of NCEMA, right, brief Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, via video conference from the headquarters of NCEMA

Members of the Covid19 working group brief Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed via video conference

Members of the Covid19 working group brief Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed via video conference from the headquarters of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority

Meanwhile on Monday, Sheikh Mohamed and other officials from the Emirates were briefed by a Covid-19 working group in a video conference.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa to use all available resources to contain the outbreak.

On Tuesday, the UAE called on its citizens living or working overseas to return home to the country amid increasing international travel restrictions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation also urged any Emirati who found themselves unwell while abroad to contact the relevant UAE embassy to arrange for their safe return.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and many flight restrictions around the world, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation urges all UAE nationals currently outside the country to return home,” a statement said.

“The ministry also asks students and patients that they contact the UAE embassies in they countries they are in to co-ordinate a safe return.”

An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images

A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images

One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National

An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP

A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters

An empty beach in Dubai. EPA

People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP

Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA

A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP

A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP

A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters

A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP

Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters

An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg

A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters

A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP

A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam

To date, the pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 7,000 people and there are now around 182,000 known cases of Covid-19 worldwide. The UAE has recorded 98 cases.

Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said on Monday that most of those infected in the country were in a stable condition, except for two cases who were still in intensive care.

''The capacity and readiness of all health facilities and labs in the public and private sectors have been upgraded to conduct high-efficiency virus tests,'' Mr Al Owais said.

He said all passengers arriving in the UAE were subject to precautionary measures, including medical examinations and thermal scanning through 32 land, sea and air entry points.

Sheikh Mohamed said the role the media played in battling the virus was key. He called on organisations to help raise awareness and prevent the spread of fake rumours.

"We won't hesitate to take any further precautionary steps if necessity arises over the coming period," he said.

"Our traditions are very dear to us but we must be practical during these times. I ask every Emirati and resident to do what is necessary, and let's not allow our traditions to become a source of harm to our families and society.

"Take care of your mothers and fathers and families."

He went on to express his appreciation for the UAE's health workers who were focused on tackling the virus.

"They stand on the front line of our defences," Sheikh Mohamed said. "We owe them a great debt and we will never forget their service."

Also on Monday, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was lit up in the green, white and red colours of the Italian flag to show solidarity with the country, the worst hit in Europe.

It also had the words "We are with you" as a sign of support. Covid-19 has so far killed 2,158 people in Italy and infected 27,980.