UAE reports new coronavirus case after Emirati student tests positive

A 17-year-old Emirati student has tested positive for the coronavirus in the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced on Thursday.

He is not showing any symptoms and is currently receiving the necessary health care, official news agency WAM reported.

New case of Coronavirus “COVID19” for a 17 year old male Emirati student, who had no symptoms#coronavirus#covid19#mohap_uae

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع الإماراتية – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) March 5, 2020

The ministry said that precautionary measures have been taken, including the immediate isolation of the patient and suspending classes at the school.

Teams of specialists have also started the necessary sterilisation in and around the school facilities.

The ministry is also testing all his contacts to ensure their safety, it said.

Also read: Everything you need to know about the four-week break for schools, universities in Dubai

Earlier this week, the Dubai Health Authority also announced that a 16-year-old Indian school student had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The infection was contracted from the student’s parent who had travelled overseas, it said in a statement.

Read: Indian school student in Dubai tests positive for coronavirus

The UAE has already announced that all schools and universities in the country will be closed for four weeks starting from Sunday, March 8.

However, the Ministry of Education clarified on Thursday that students will have the spring break for two weeks from March 8 until March 19, following which educational institutions will have to facilitate distance learning programmes for the next two weeks.

Read: UAE Ministry of Education clarifies spring break dates for teachers and students