Hospitals in Dubai are safe to visit and anyone with an ailment "should not hesitate" to seek medical advice, authorities said on Thursday.
During a weekly press briefing, Dr Amer Al Sharif, head of the Disease and Epidemic Control Centre, part of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, said hospitals had clear procedures in place to ensure Covid-19 patients were isolated from other visitors to avoid infections.
"If you need any treatment, you must go to hospital if you have a symptom. Do not fear going to hospitals," he said.
Many hospitals in the emirate have introduced a "virtual doctor" option for those who wish to seek medical advice without physically going to hospital.
Do not fear going to hospitals
Dr Al Sharif said Rashid Hospital was mainly where coronavirus patients were being treated but added that other hospitals, public and private, are admitting patients too.
He said all hospitals, including specialised medical centres, are still receiving patients for any ailments – not only coronavirus.
"Children's hospitals are also open and safe," he said.
While the rest of the country has imposed an 8pm to 6am nightly curfew, during which a disinfection programme is carried out, Dubai extended this to 24-hours as of April 4. The curfew is due to last until Saturday, April 18, but may be extended.
On Thursday, Dr Al Sharif said it was not possible to know how long the curfew will last but that decisions would be made based on the results of the disinfection programme and general adherence to the stay home order.
"The [disinfection] programme is considered a precautionary protective measure to ensure the safety of all members of the community, which is why we extended it to 24-hours."
He said the emirate was taking a two-pronged approach to tackling the virus; curbing its spread through social distancing and increasing the number of tests being carried out.
"We are also working to increase hospital capacity and working with partners to ensure we constantly have enough medical supplies," he said.
Tests are now being conducted at most hospitals and even on site in densely populated areas of Dubai, including Al Ras, Naif, Al Khawaneej and in labour accommodation, where testing clinics have been opened.
"All who tested positive are quarantined and isolated and treated with a clear health plan."
Testing is also conducted at airports, where residents who wish to return to their home countries are being repatriated on special flights. Precautionary measures are also in place for airport employees, who are frequently tested and given personal protection equipment to wear, to ensure their safety.
This week, Emirates announced it was also conducting Covid-19 tests at the airport for outgoing passengers prior to boarding. The results take just 10 minutes to process.
During the briefing, Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, said Dubai looked forward to being able to reopen its borders and "welcome tourists again soon".
No timeline for this was given but he said tourism authorities, airlines and companies were continuously reviewing the current global situation and drawing up plans to revive tourism "to go back to normal life and hosting tourists as we did before the crisis."
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
