• A cyclist passes a model of a dhow in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A cyclist passes a model of a dhow in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A Dubai stallholder at work. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A Dubai stallholder at work. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A pedestrian looks over the water in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A pedestrian looks over the water in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • People play cricket at a sports area in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People play cricket at a sports area in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A trader sorts out his stock at a Dubai market. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A trader sorts out his stock at a Dubai market. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A staff member at a bakery performs a temperature check in Downtown, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A staff member at a bakery performs a temperature check in Downtown, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A motorist pays for his parking in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A motorist pays for his parking in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A passer by walks near a safe distance sign in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A passer by walks near a safe distance sign in Bur Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The head coach at Front Foot sports cricket academy disinfects the stumps in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The head coach at Front Foot sports cricket academy disinfects the stumps in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Coronavirus: UAE residents urged not to panic as new Covid-19 strain spreads around the globe


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  • Arabic

UAE officials said the country's health sector is ready and able to meet the challenge of a new strain of Covid-19 as members of the public were urged to remain committed to safety measures.

The emergence of a more contagious form of the virus is being linked to a surge in case numbers in the UK. The new strain has been detected in other parts of the globe.

Dr Omar Al Hammadi, spokesman for the UAE government, urged residents not to panic as analysis of the new form of Covid-19 continues.

"Our health sector is able, thanks to its medical staff, to deal efficiently with any changes that may arise, and to provide the best forms of prevention and health care for citizens and residents," Dr Al Hammadi said in relation to concerns over the mutated virus.

"There has been an emergence of a new strain of the virus capable of spreading faster in some regions of the world, and the issue is still being studied by scientists and the competent authorities."

He said there was no indication vaccines being launched around the world would not be effective against the new strain.

"Clinical research has not indicated the ability of new mutations of the virus to thwart the effectiveness of the response to vaccines, and researchers confirmed, before the emergence of the new mutation, that human immunity was fighting the mutated versions of the original virus more effectively than before."

Dr Al Hammadi said tourists and those returning to the country from overseas should abide by precautionary measures and must seek medical support if they display symptoms of coronavirus.

"We affirm that all those coming from outside the country must adhere to all precautionary measures, including adherence to home quarantine, and go to the hospital in the event of any symptoms appearing, and those outside the country must take all precautions and adhere to the preventive measures for these countries.

"Those outside the country must take all precautions. For airport workers there is a need to abide by all precautions."

Doctors in the UAE told The National that travellers arriving from countries where the new coronavirus strain is active should be cautious and limit gatherings where possible.

Medics said a voluntary period of isolation would protect the community from the fast-spreading Covid-19 variant strain discovered in England.

“People coming from England should try to quarantine themselves and see if they develop symptoms during that time, then they need to be re-tested,” said Dr Maan Jamal, a consultant pulmonologist at Emirates Hospital Jumeirah.

“Early detection is very important to limit the spread."

Dr Al Hammadi called on the public not to spread rumours about the potential impact of a new form of Covid-19.

'We urge the public not to panic and to avoid spreading rumours and views that are not clear.

"We ask you to continue taking precautions. We can face all possibilities by making sure the virus does not spread [by maintaining] social distancing, hygiene and wearing masks."

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

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Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat

FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Taha%20Bendaoud%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ali%20Taleb%20v%20Nawras%20Abzakh%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Xavier%20Alaoui%20v%20Rachid%20El%20Hazoume%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Islam%20Reda%20v%20Adam%20Meskini%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Tariq%20Ismail%20v%20Jalal%20Al%20Daaja%0D%3Cbr%3EBantamweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Elias%20Boudegzdame%20v%20Hassan%20Mandour%0D%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Female%20Atomweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Hattan%20Al%20Saif%20v%20Nada%20Faheem%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Maraoune%20Bellagouit%20v%20Motaz%20Askar%0D%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Ahmed%20Tarek%20v%20Abdelrahman%20Alhyasat%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Featherweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Mido%20Mohamed%20v%20Yazeed%20Hasanain%0D%3Cbr%3EShowcase%20Flyweight%20Bout%3A%0D%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Harsh%20Pandya%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

TOUCH RULES

Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.

Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.

Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.

A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.

After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.

At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.

A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.

List of alleged parties

 

May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff 

May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'

Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff 

Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 

Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party

Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters 

Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz 

Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 

POSSIBLE ENGLAND EURO 2020 SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Ben Chilwell, Fabian Delph.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

Company profile

Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital