WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel. AFP
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel. AFP
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel. AFP
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel. AFP

‘End is in sight’ for Covid-19 pandemic, says WHO chief


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The end of the Covid-19 pandemic is in sight, the head of the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

“We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic. We are not there yet, but the end is in sight,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters during a briefing on Covid-19 and other global health issues.

The number of newly reported Covid cases has dropped to the lowest level since March 2020.

The WHO's latest epidemiological report on Covid-19 shows that the number of reported cases fell 28 per cent to 3.1 million during the week ending September 11, following a 12 per cent drop a week earlier.

However, as the rest of the world gradually lifts restrictions, China continues to lock down parts of the country and conduct mass testing to eradicate coronavirus within its borders.

New research suggests at least 17 million people in the European Union may have experienced long Covid-19 symptoms during the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic, with women more likely than men to suffer from the condition, the WHO said.

The research was unclear on whether the symptoms that linger, recur or first appear at least one month after a coronavirus infection were more common in vaccinated or unvaccinated patients. At least 17 million met the WHO’s criteria of long Covid, with symptoms lasting at least three months in 2020 and 2021, the report said.

But the agency has said that the falling number of reported cases is deceptive, since many countries have cut back on testing and may not be detecting the less serious cases.

“The number of cases that are being reported to WHO we know are an underestimate,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO technical lead on Covid, told reporters.

“We feel that far more cases are actually circulating than are being reported to us,” she said, cautioning that the virus “is circulating at a very intense level around the world at the present time”.

Since the start of the pandemic, the WHO has recorded more than 605 million cases and about 6.4 million deaths, although both those numbers are also believed to be serious undercounts.

In the UAE, 402 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Wednesday after an additional 244,532 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.

No deaths were reported in the 24-hour reporting period, with the country's toll remaining at 2,342.

Philippines schools reopen post Covid-19

  • Pupils at Pedro Guevarra Elementary School in Manila attend a flag-raising ceremony on August 22, the first day of in-person classes, following two years of Covid-19 lockdowns in the Philippines. AFP
    Pupils at Pedro Guevarra Elementary School in Manila attend a flag-raising ceremony on August 22, the first day of in-person classes, following two years of Covid-19 lockdowns in the Philippines. AFP
  • Pupils walk to school in Quezon city. Bloomberg
    Pupils walk to school in Quezon city. Bloomberg
  • Pupils attend the first day of in-person classes at a flooded school due to high tide in Macabebe, Pampanga province. Reuters
    Pupils attend the first day of in-person classes at a flooded school due to high tide in Macabebe, Pampanga province. Reuters
  • Pupils ride a boat to school in Macabebe. Reuters
    Pupils ride a boat to school in Macabebe. Reuters
  • A teacher administers hand sanitizer to pupils. AFP
    A teacher administers hand sanitizer to pupils. AFP
  • A city hall employee helps a pupil put on a face mask in Quezon city. AFP
    A city hall employee helps a pupil put on a face mask in Quezon city. AFP
  • Parents watch from a pedestrian overpass as their children head into school. AFP
    Parents watch from a pedestrian overpass as their children head into school. AFP
  • It's all too much for one girl, as the new term gets under way at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
    It's all too much for one girl, as the new term gets under way at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
  • A pupil checks her temperature at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
    A pupil checks her temperature at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
  • A girl receives her first Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
    A girl receives her first Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination at San Juan Elementary School. AP Photo
  • Students wash their hands to help keep Covid-19 at bay. Reuters
    Students wash their hands to help keep Covid-19 at bay. Reuters
  • A boy cries outside his classroom on the first day of in-person classes at a public school in San Juan city. Reuters
    A boy cries outside his classroom on the first day of in-person classes at a public school in San Juan city. Reuters
  • Pupils wait to enter their classrooms. Getty Images
    Pupils wait to enter their classrooms. Getty Images
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

If you go

The Flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.

The trip

Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.

SCHEDULE

6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
 
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1
Alonso (62')

Huddersfield Town 1
Depoitre (50')

Updated: September 14, 2022, 4:40 PM