Coronavirus: UAE records 1,194 cases as 631 people recover


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Another 1,194 cases of Covid-19 were detected on Sunday after 143,781 tests were carried out.

The new infections took the country's tally to 184,949 since the first cases were reported in late January.

Authorities said 631 people were cleared of Covid-19, taking the recovery total to 163,679.

Eight patients died of related complications, taking the death toll to 617.

The number of of people across the Emirates with Covid-19 is 20,653 – the highest number of active cases to date.

As Abu Dhabi prepares to lift most coronavirus restrictions, authorities have assured that this would be balanced by "additional precautions", such as an increase in testing.

Last week, Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disasters Committee said the emirate would resume “all economic, tourism, cultural and entertainment activities” within two weeks.

Police officials said there were no plans yet to stop checks at the border, where drivers entering from Dubai must present a negative PCR nasal swab test.

Testing has soared in recent days as part of the country's mass early detection strategy that aims to prevent the virus spreading.

More than 19 million Covid-19 tests have been carried out nationwide since the outbreak.

The cost of a PCR nasal swab fell from Dh370 at the start of the outbreak to Dh85 this month. Access to testing has also been widened through the introduction of drive-through screening centres, programmes in densely populated districts and the roll-out of testing facilities in malls.

Last week, the Emirates officially registered China's Sinopharm vaccine for public use.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said it approved a request from the Chinese drug manufacturer in a "major step" towards combating the pandemic. The vaccine was found to be 86 per cent effective against coronavirus in Phase 3 trials.

One of the country's largest hospital groups said it was expecting to deliver up to 5,000 Covid-19 shots per day.

VPS Healthcare, chosen to help the government distribute China's Sinopharm vaccine, said the 18 hospitals and clinics it runs would have doses available.

Vaccinations can be booked, free of charge, across the UAE.

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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Sheffield United v Arsenal

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INFO
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

 

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

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What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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Jawbone Press

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TOUR DE FRANCE INFO

Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet