UAE conducts over one million Covid-19 tests, total case count reaches 9,813

The UAE has conducted over one million Covid-19 tests in the country as part of the national plan to intensify coronavirus detection.

The government has conducted 1,022,326 screenings with the total case count now at 9,813, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced on Saturday.

The UAE reported 532 new Covid-19 cases among various nationalities on Saturday, with seven additional deaths confirmed.

The deceased, who belong to different nationalities, mostly had pre-existing conditions.

“The more tests we conduct, the earlier we detect more cases, and the more efficiently we can contain the virus,” Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said in a briefing, reported official news agency WAM.

“The more tests we perform, the more proactively we can handle those proven to be in contact with confirmed cases, as well as those who don’t exhibit any symptoms and yet carry the infection.”

Al Owais said that Covid-19 tests are available nationwide at more than 14 mobile drive-through facilities, along with screening centres provided by hospitals and other medical facilities across the country. Screening services are also available for people of determination.

“It is normal that we detect more cases when we accelerate screening. And herein we would like to reassure the public that this increase in the number of patients is expected and proves that we are on the right path to contain the spread of the virus.”

Meanwhile the UAE also confirmed that 127 additional patients had recovered, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,887.

Dr. Amna Al Shamsi, spokesperson for MoHAP, said: “Past weeks saw the recovery of an average of 100 cases daily”, she said, adding that 20 per cent of the total infections have recovered.

Remain cautious

Al Shamsi also stressed that the UAE’s decision to partially relax restrictions does not mean that the situation is back to normal.

Precautionary and preventative measures are still in place, and the public must comply with all measures, including social distancing and the wearing of masks.

“On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, the UAE has been keen to partially relax restrictions on movement while ensuring that all people continue to abide by the relevant prevention guidelines and instructions. These new measures include allowing first and second degree relatives to visit while avoiding inviting those susceptible to infection, including the elderly and people with chronic diseases. The number of people present in a place at any one time may not exceed five individuals,” Al Shamsi stated.

“Exercise should take place near one’s home for up to two hours, with a maximum of three people at any one time. Food should not be exchanged between residents of different homes. In the event that food is received from relatives or friends in the vicinity of one’s home, the appropriate handling of food in disposable sealed bowls must be ensured,” she noted.

Domestic helpers are prohibited from meeting anyone outside the home. They also cannot receive food from an unknown source. They should be provided with the necessary protective equipment should they need to interact with people from outside.

Al Shamsi said that the ministry, along with the Departments of Health in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, has launched an app to allow authorities to rapidly identify cases susceptible to infection and consequently contact and test them.

“The application provides a service that shows to what extent people under home quarantine abide by the required measures in order to ensure their protection and the safety of the public. Every user will have a QR code showing his or her health condition. The app uses Bluetooth short range signals to show whether or not the person in question is near other people who had contact with previously confirmed Covid-19 cases who also should have the app installed on their mobiles.”