Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has reinforced the UAE’s stay at home message.
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces urged members of the public to behave responsibly and help the country to beat the pandemic.
The UAE has recorded more than 26,000 infections and more than 11,800 patients have recovered.
But Sheikh Mohamed stressed the need to continue the good work of health officials, asking residents to remain at home during Eid Al Fitr.
“We want to keep our numbers low and they are starting to be somewhat promising,” he said in a televised briefing.
“However, this changed in Ramadan. So what I ask of our residents and citizens is to stay home during the last week of Ramadan and during Eid, especially for older people, children and people with special needs.
We see the numbers and can see that the economic situation is promising now.
“I know it is hard but for us but it means saving lives. For us, it means keeping our loved ones safe.
“We do not want everything that we did in the past months to be in vain due to a simple mistake that would cost us too much.”
As of May 21, global cases of the virus have topped five million, with the death toll increasing to more than 331,000.
Some countries continue to record a daily increase in infections, although the number of cases in other nations have plateaued or are even dropping.
Governments are still under pressure to reopen their respective economies, with authorities in countries such as Italy having eased lockdown restrictions already.
In the UK, two trials are being carried out on antimalarial medicine to discover whether they can prevent potential infections.
Sheikh Mohamed said the pandemic remained a challenge.
But he said the UAE would successfully come out the other side, with the country's economy rebounding swiftly.
“We got off to a good start,” Sheikh Mohamed said, referring to the UAE’s initial reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Our main concern at the beginning was how to protect three main groups.
"Those groups are the young, the elderly and those with a compromised immune system.
“All the rest are subjected to three conditions. These conditions are maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks and wearing gloves.
“As for young people, life must go on so we can continue living. I believe that life will continue its circle.
“We see the numbers and can see that the economic situation is promising now.”
During the same online briefing, Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the UAE’s health sector, also drove home the importance of case prevention.
“Recently, the number of cases detected in the country has been increasing,” she said.
“We need to gradually resume business and restore essential activities, but this needs to happen under a new lifestyle that is unlike the past.
“Observing the rules is crucial. Life will resume gradually but we should focus on prevention.
“We can be easily protected if we are careful enough to stay safe. Please take care of your families and loved ones.”
Sheikh Mohamed urged residents to avoid large family gatherings during Eid.
“We do not want the number of cases to increase," he said.
“Technology has enabled us to keep in touch with everyone far or near, so let’s contact and greet our families and loved ones through modern technology.”
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
