• Medical staff push a patient on a gurney to a waiting medical helicopter at the Emile Muller hospital in Mulhouse, eastern France. AFP
    Medical staff push a patient on a gurney to a waiting medical helicopter at the Emile Muller hospital in Mulhouse, eastern France. AFP
  • An Indian man shows his stamped hand, indicating that the person is under 'home quarantine', in Mumbai, India. EPA
    An Indian man shows his stamped hand, indicating that the person is under 'home quarantine', in Mumbai, India. EPA
  • Judie Shape, centre, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, but isn't showing symptoms, presses her hand against her window after a visit through the window and on the phone with her daughter Lori Spencer, left, and her son-in-law Michael Spencer, at the Life Care Center in Kirkland. AP Photo
    Judie Shape, centre, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, but isn't showing symptoms, presses her hand against her window after a visit through the window and on the phone with her daughter Lori Spencer, left, and her son-in-law Michael Spencer, at the Life Care Center in Kirkland. AP Photo
  • A single worshipper wearing a surgical mask sits on a pew in Westminster Cathedral in central London. AFP
    A single worshipper wearing a surgical mask sits on a pew in Westminster Cathedral in central London. AFP
  • People confined at their homes sing and dance from their windows to bolster themselves up during a lockdown in Madrid. AFP
    People confined at their homes sing and dance from their windows to bolster themselves up during a lockdown in Madrid. AFP
  • A person walks on the deserted Passerelle du Palais de Justice in Lyon, central eastern France as a strict lockdown comes into in effect. AFP
    A person walks on the deserted Passerelle du Palais de Justice in Lyon, central eastern France as a strict lockdown comes into in effect. AFP
  • Soldiers stand guard on road leading to a quarantine faciltity for people returning from Iran via the Pakistan-Iran border town of Taftan, in Sukkur in southern Sindh province. AFP
    Soldiers stand guard on road leading to a quarantine faciltity for people returning from Iran via the Pakistan-Iran border town of Taftan, in Sukkur in southern Sindh province. AFP
  • A passenger wearing protective clothing uses a self check-in machine at Incheon international airport, west of Seoul. AFP
    A passenger wearing protective clothing uses a self check-in machine at Incheon international airport, west of Seoul. AFP
  • Workers cheer themselves after loading travellers onto buses outside the New China International Exhibition Centre, near Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing. AFP
    Workers cheer themselves after loading travellers onto buses outside the New China International Exhibition Centre, near Beijing Capital Airport in Beijing. AFP
  • A nurse wearing a facemask walks outside the entrance of Sri Lanka's Infectious Diseases Hospital near Colombo. AFP
    A nurse wearing a facemask walks outside the entrance of Sri Lanka's Infectious Diseases Hospital near Colombo. AFP
  • People queue for groceries at a supermarket in Singapore. AFP
    People queue for groceries at a supermarket in Singapore. AFP
  • A medical worker tests a person for the coronavirus at a drive-through facility primarily for first responders and medical personnel in San Antonio. AP Photo
    A medical worker tests a person for the coronavirus at a drive-through facility primarily for first responders and medical personnel in San Antonio. AP Photo
  • A robot, developed by a start-up firm Asimov Robotics, holds a tray with face masks and sanitiser after the two robots were launched to spread awareness about the coronavirus, in Kochi, India, March 17, 2020. Reuters
    A robot, developed by a start-up firm Asimov Robotics, holds a tray with face masks and sanitiser after the two robots were launched to spread awareness about the coronavirus, in Kochi, India, March 17, 2020. Reuters

Health

Coronavirus: first two virus deaths announced in the UAE

One suffered a heart attack while the other had pre-existing chronic diseases

The National

March 20, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE announced the country's first two deaths caused by coronavirus, early on Saturday morning.

The deceased included a 78-year-old Arab citizen who had returned from Europe and an Asian citizen, aged 58.

The first died of a heart attack "that coincided with complications from the virus" and the second suffered from chronic diseases, including heart disease and kidney failure, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said.

The UAE has recorded 140 cases of Covid-19. Of these, 31 have made a full recovery.

On Saturday, the ministry expressed its "regret and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased". It also wished current patients a speedy recovery.

The ministry said the pair were treated at government hospitals, where they received all necessary medical care.

The ministry called on the public to adhere to the precautions put in place by the UAE government to contain the spread of coronavirus, including maintaining social distancing.

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