As Covid-19 cases rise across the globe, health authorities in the UAE have encouraged the public to be vaccinated.
During the country’s regular briefing, Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the Emirates’ health sector, said cases in the country had risen in recent weeks due to local infections and also international travellers.
She said a new, more contagious strain of the virus first found in Britain, which has caused a spike in cases worldwide, had been detected in the UAE.
“This was expected, but what is most important now is that we continue our efforts to protect ourselves against the virus,” she said.
She said researchers were working to learn more about the strain and how to best tackle it while health authorities monitored cases.
At the beginning of the outbreak, we had no cure. Now we do and we encourage you all to get vaccinated
Above all, she said, vaccines are “one of the most important solutions we have available to prevent the spread of the virus and its severity”.
Dr Al Hosani said the current rise in cases worldwide had exceeded the percentage of infections recorded during the first wave.
“This is a global concern,” she said.
Local authorities will continue to follow the country’s early-detection strategy by conducting mass screenings and contact tracing, and enforcing quarantine measures for anyone who comes into contact with a positive case.
She said health systems around the world had come under immense strain from the virus but that the UAE had been proactive by increasing its capacity early on.
“The community role has also been crucial to this success with members of the public adhering to safety measures,” she said.
In the UAE, the focus has now turned to ensuring the highest possible percentage of the population is vaccinated.
Two free and voluntary immunisation drives are under way in the UAE.
The Sinopharm vaccine is available to all adults across the country while the Pfizer-BioNTech is authorised for use in Dubai for elderly or otherwise clinically vulnerable people.
On Tuesday, Dr Al Hosani thanked medical staff for their work to administer about 1.3 million doses of the vaccines.
She said they were available at more than 152 centres and that home visits would be conducted for elderly Emiratis and residents, if requested.
Dr Al Hosani also took a moment to remember the people who died after contracting the virus.
“At the beginning of the outbreak, we had no cure. Now we do and we encourage you all to get vaccinated.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
Juventus v Brescia (6pm)
Sampdoria v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
Cagliari v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
