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Covid-19: Dubai hospitals ‘strained, not overwhelmed’ says official

Helal Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Tourism Authority, added that the emirate has a clear plan for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic

by Varun Godinho

February 3, 2021

A top Dubai official has described the emirate’s hospitals as “strained, not overwhelmed” in response to the impact of the Covid-19 on the local healthcare system.

The remarks, made on the CNN Connect the World programme on Tuesday, were reported by John Defterios, CNN’s Emerging Markets editor, who was in conversation with Becky Anderson.

Defterios, said that he asked Helal Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Tourism Authority, the state of the healthcare system. “I asked the question, is it overwhelmed? He said absolutely not. Hospital beds are still available. Supplies are there. The supply chain is not broken.”

Al Marri reportedly added: “I sit on the emergency committee with the Dubai Health Authority. I would describe the system as strained, not overwhelmed.”

سي إن إن: في دبي والإمارات نشاهد خطوات جادة في مجال الوقاية والتطعيم، والإمارات الثانية عالمياً في نسبة الأشخاص الذين حصلوا على اللقاح ضد كوفيد-19… حصلت زيادة في الفترة الماضية في عدد الإصابات وهو ما رفع الطلب على الخدمات الصحية، لكن المستشفيات تعمل وتقدم مختلف الخدمات الصحية. pic.twitter.com/OzAfXbVdNX

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 2, 2021

Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing told CNN that Dubai is taking steps based on the data on the ground, has a very clear plan for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and will not take steps based on external media reports.

هلال سعيد المري، المدير العام لدائرة السياحة والتسويق التجاري بدبي لـ CNN: دبي تتخذ خطوات بناء على المعطيات على الأرض ولدينا خطة واضحة جداً في التعامل مع جائحة كورونا، ولا نتخذ خطواتنا بناء على تقارير إعلامية خارجية. pic.twitter.com/0O27NfLF5m

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 2, 2021

Last week, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, appointed Awad Saghir Al Ketbi as the new director general of the Dubai Health Authority and Dr. Alawi Alsheikh Ali as its deputy director general.

The emirate also announced a new set of Covid-19 precautionary measures including limiting capacity at malls and the closing down of pubs and bars from February 2, 2021 until the end of the month, to stem the spread of the virus.

Read: Dubai announces new Covid-19 restrictions: Mall capacity reduced, bars closed