Coronavirus: UAE records 11 new cases

Eighty-five people have tested positive for virus in Emirates

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The UAE announced 11 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday.

The latest positive tests for Covid-19 take the number of cases recorded in the country to 85.

The two Italians, two Filipinos and one person each from the UAE, Montenegro, Canada, Germany, Pakistan, Russia and the UK are in a stable condition and receiving treatment.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has confirmed 40 new cases of the fast-moving virus this week.

The authority on Thursday said three more people had fully recovered from infection, bringing the number of recovered cases to 20.

The ministry said the three people, from Bangladesh, China and Italy, were in good health after receiving treatment in hospital.

It thanked the country's leadership and said infected people were being treated under the highest standards and World Health Organisation guidelines.

More than 125,000 people across the globe have contracted the virus, which had caused more than 4,700 deaths as of Thursday.

More than 68,000 people around the world have recovered.

The UAE has stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the virus. Schools and universities began a month-long shutdown on Sunday.

Cleaning operations have been launched at places of worship while a number of live events, such as music concerts, have been postponed as part of the ongoing safety measures.

 

Malls and supermarkets across the UAE are using airport-style thermal scanners to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Sites also increased deep-cleaning protocols to ensure public places can remain open and free of the virus.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have also announced shisha bans, and both have introduced plans to allow some government staff to work from home.

How to protect yourself against coronavirus

Last week, authorities urged Emiratis and expatriates to avoid foreign travel as airports increased checks on arriving passengers.

Returning residents may be tested at the airport and, depending on their travel history, be placed in 14-day quarantine at home, the Ministry of Health said.

Tourists from various countries, including high-risk outbreak areas, can also expect checks.

Basic tests involve walking past thermal scanners, which allow medical officials to spot raised body temperature possibly caused by fever.

Some airports use handheld temperature scanners, which are touched to a passenger's forehead. They work in the same way and take moments to give a result.

Meanwhile, Emirates airline said it has halted flights to select destinations to the US that travel through European cities because of US President Donald Trump's order to ban travel from Europe.

The airline has suspended flights to New York through Milan and Athens.

The airline is also suspending its Dubai to Fort Lauderdale route from Friday, March 13, until Tuesday, March 31.

On Thursday, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates, said the airline would begin to screen patients flying directly to US destinations.

Starting today, we are implementing thermal scanning for all @emirates passengers flying from Dubai International Airport to all US destinations. This proactive measure is part of our ongoing efforts in response to the latest COVID-19 pandemic developments. @DXB pic.twitter.com/NMKDhTGFfV

— HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (@HHAhmedBinSaeed) March 12, 2020