• Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. REUTERS
    Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. REUTERS
  • A staff member sprays disinfectant in a subway train compartment in Beijing. AFP
    A staff member sprays disinfectant in a subway train compartment in Beijing. AFP
  • Workers operate a vehicle to carry out disinfection in Jianghan district, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. REUTERS
    Workers operate a vehicle to carry out disinfection in Jianghan district, following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. REUTERS
  • A worker wearing a protective mask sprays disinfectant at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
    A worker wearing a protective mask sprays disinfectant at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
  • A man and his child wear protective masks at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
    A man and his child wear protective masks at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
  • People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port. AFP
    People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port. AFP
  • A Chinese employee works at a factory in Nantong in China's eastern Jiangsu province . AFP
    A Chinese employee works at a factory in Nantong in China's eastern Jiangsu province . AFP
  • epa08208368 A Chinese vendor sorts vegetables at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
    epa08208368 A Chinese vendor sorts vegetables at a market in Beijing, China. EPA
  • Workers have lunch at a dining hall using boards to separate people to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Yantai in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP
    Workers have lunch at a dining hall using boards to separate people to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in Yantai in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP
  • A picture released by Xinhua News Agency shows Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the epidemic, inspecting the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China. EPA
    A picture released by Xinhua News Agency shows Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the epidemic, inspecting the Institute of Pathogen Biology at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China. EPA
  • Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, in Xinle, Hebei province, China. REUTERS
    Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country, in Xinle, Hebei province, China. REUTERS
  • A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask while he stands guard outside National Palace, following the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS
    A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask while he stands guard outside National Palace, following the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS
  • A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask while he stands guard outside National Palace, following the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS
    A Malaysian Royal Guard wears a protective mask while he stands guard outside National Palace, following the outbreak of a new coronavirus in China, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. REUTERS

Coronavirus: UAE confirms eighth case is Indian citizen


Rory Reynolds
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE has confirmed a new case of coronavirus, bringing the total to eight.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the patient was an Indian citizen who became ill after “interacting with a recently diagnosed person”.

Officials said one of the patients was in intensive care as of Monday, with six in a stable condition and one discharged from hospital on Sunday.

At least five of the six Chinese nationals had a link to Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak.

It is not clear whether the Filipino or Indian – the seventh and eighth cases reported – had any connection to China.

“All reported cases are in a stable condition, except for one case, who is being put under close observation by a team of senior consultants at the intensive care unit,” the ministry said.

Officials sought to “assure members of the community that we are taking all adequate preventive measures,” including check-ups and observation of patients’ families, relatives and people who have been around them.

“The public are also advised to adopt protective health behaviours to avoid infectious diseases, including washing hands with soap and clean water, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing to stop the spread of germs and viruses,” they said.

“In co-operation with key partners, we follow a very effective epidemiological monitoring mechanism, in accordance with the highest global practices and based on the World Health Organisation’s standards, to respond to any health emergencies.”

On Sunday, Liu Yujia, 73, the first person to show symptoms of the virus, was released from hospital, where she had been since January 23.

She was travelling with her granddaughter, 9, and the girl’s mother and father, all from Wuhan and on holiday in the Emirates, when she became ill.

The three relatives later had the coronavirus diagnosed. They remain in hospital.

On Monday, China's consul general in Dubai said any Chinese nationals recently returned from virus-hit regions should observe a two-week home quarantine and promptly report symptoms to the Emirati authorities.

Li Xuhang also urged any Chinese residents who have been in contact with affected people in China to be checked by a doctor as a precaution.