Two new cases of coronavirus confirmed in UAE


Gillian Duncan
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Latest: UAE coronavirus victim makes 'full recovery'

Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UAE, bringing the total number of people in the country with the illness to seven.

They include a Filipino, who is the first non-Chinese person to test positive for the illness in the UAE. The other new case occurred in a Chinese citizen.

The news was announced by the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

"The patients were identified through the continuous periodic screening being conducted in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organisation for people with symptoms of the new coronavirus," state news agency Wam reported.

The Ministry said the new cases were "under observation and necessary medical care according to the highest health standards applicable in the country". The ministry emphasised the effectiveness of the online reporting system.

"All health facilities will continue to report any new cases suspected to have coronavirus," it said.

It is unclear if the two new cases were infected locally or only began presenting symptoms after traveling to the UAE. The UAE is screening for coronavirus at every port of entry but the long incubation period of the virus - up to 14 days - makes it difficult to detect until symptoms develop.

On Saturday, the Philippines Embassy in Abu Dhabi said it would “fully co-ordinate with UAE health authorities” on the case of the Filipino who tested positive for the virus.

The patient was under observation and receiving medical care in accordance with the highest standards in the UAE, said the embassy.

“With this in mind, we remind all Filipinos in the UAE to always follow the hygiene protocols of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and WHO,” it said.

Last week, Philippines labour secretary Silvestre Bello apologised for suggesting a Filipina resident died from the coronavirus in Dubai.

Mr Bello said the worker died in Dubai but he was not certain whether it was due to the new coronavirus. His statement prompted a spate of false reports and local concern.

Dubai Media Office clarified that tests showed the woman died of a respiratory illness, but not the new coronavirus that originated in China.

Mr Bello's apology came on the same day Ahmed Ibrahim Saif, a former head of Dubai’s criminal court, warned the public against spreading rumours that could affect security and “incite public panic”, after a string of inaccurate posts on Twitter.

Authorities have repeatedly said to rely on official sources for accurate information.

“It’s unacceptable and people should know better than to circulate news they are not 100 per cent certain of,” said Mr Saif.

There are seven known coronaviruses which can cause illness in people. The new coronavirus was discovered for the first time in December.

Scientists are still studying the origins of the virus, but many of the earliest cases – although not the first – were linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, a city in central China, which remains the worst affected area.

Bats are believed to be the original hosts of the virus, however, a developing theory suggests pangolins, a scaly anteater, may have passed it to humans.

Bats are known to harbour more than 60 illnesses that can infect humans, including Sars and Mers, which are close cousins of the new coronavirus.

The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed 34,000 on Saturday, with at least 722 deaths.

The five previous cases of the virus in the UAE all occurred in Chinese tourists from Wuhan.

Pakistan T20 series squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

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