Coronavirus: Hundreds tested as a precaution against eight confirmed cases, says Emirati health minister


Haneen Dajani
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Related: Inside an Abu Dhabi clinic testing patients for coronavirus

The UAE has carried out precautionary tests on hundreds of people for coronavirus to prevent its spread, the health minister said on Tuesday.

Abdulrahman Al Owais said about 150 people were tested for each of the eight patients confirmed to ensure anyone they came into contact had not been infected.

Abdullrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, explains why the UAE has continued to receive flights from China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, during a Federal National Council session in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Victor Besa / The National
Abdullrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, explains why the UAE has continued to receive flights from China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, during a Federal National Council session in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Victor Besa / The National

In a public briefing to the Federal National Council on Tuesday, he said:

  • More than 500 staff members work round the clock on communication, medical investigations and logistical support related to combating the virus
  • 400 people on flights from China underwent mandatory checks on Monday
  • There remains a great deal of misunderstanding around the virus and Mr Al Owais urged the public not to overreact
  • Hospitals are well equipped to handle precautionary tests and confirmed cases — he personally visited pharmacies to check for stocks of masks
  • The decision to keep Emirates and Etihad routes to China open was important to ensure Chinese visitors can return home.

In other developments on Tuesday, China 'removed' several senior officials from their posts as the global death toll passed 1,000 people. The party secretary for the Hubei province health commission, which covers the outbreak city of Wuhan, and the head of the commission were both sacked.

But the daily rate of new infections appeared to have slowed, with 2,478 new cases on Monday, down from 3,062 the day before.

Mr Al Owais, whose Ministry of Health and Prevention has led the response to the virus in the Emirates, answered questions from members about the decision to keep airline routes to China open.

“Many people wondered why we haven’t stopped flights from China... and wonder would stopping flights stop China stop coronavirus from reaching the UAE? And would it stop travellers from China from arriving in the UAE? Of course not," he said.

Many Chinese passengers transit through the UAE from other countries, while others come on business and for holidays.

“And what would happen to the Chinese visitors who are already in the UAE if we were to suspend flights? How would they return?," he told members.

Mr Al Owais said the decision to keep flights to Beijing running was to ensure tourism and trade remained open. Aviation authorities told airlines, including Emirates and Etihad, to suspend routes to regional cities including Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu.

"The more important thing is that the UAE is ready to accommodate the situation [of coronavirus], therefore, the decision was to reduce the number of trips, and China will remain as one of our most important political and economic allies," he said.

The minister said "many people misunderstood what WHO said regarding the issue".

"It only voiced its concerns of coronavirus reaching countries that cannot deal with it, and in the UAE we are fully capable of dealing with it and we are capable of preventing it".

Airport checks

Mr Al Owais outlined the precautions taken on flights landing on Monday.

He said “only 400 people arrived from China yesterday, and we took all the necessary precautions with regards to the passengers".

"They underwent the mandatory examination and declaration. And we are monitoring those who leave from China and arrive in the UAE.”

Emirati airports have been using thermal scanners — which can determine if a passenger has a high internal body temperature, suggesting a fever — “from the first day... and now they are being spread across other places".

Personal hygiene 

Medical advice to avoid the virus remains washing hands frequently or using hand sanitiser. Experts are divided over the effectiveness of masks and doctors said it is up to members of the public if they wish to wear one.

“People were saying there is a shortage of prevention masks and sanitisers and some medicines; the UAE has a more than enough supply," the minister said in response to questions from FNC members on Tuesday.

"Sometimes supplying certain pharmacies needs time when they run out. Before coming to the session today I passed by a pharmacy and I found enough masks there.”

He previously checked other pharmacies and they all had enough supplies, he said.

“We have a strategic supply for antiviruses, and many medical products that are used to fight coronavirus are being produced in the UAE. The UAE was one of the first countries to receive the advanced testing tools, some countries only started ordering them recently.

“So we hope that everybody will live their lives in a normal way and take care of their personal hygiene like washing their hands regularly, and to avoid congested places, not only to avoid coronavirus but all viruses.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)

Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)

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Emirates exiles

Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.

Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.

Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

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Tuesday, October 29

Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE

Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman

Wednesday, October 30

Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one

Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two

Thursday, October 31

Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four

Friday, November 1

Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one

Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two

Saturday, November 2

Third-place playoff, 2.10pm

Final, 7.30pm

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

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25 visual effects (VFX) studios

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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


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How to vote in the UAE

1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/

2) Take it to the US Embassy

3) Deadline is October 15

4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll

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Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
  • Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
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