COVID-19: UAE government confirms presence of new variant

The UAE has confirmed the presence of a limited number of cases of the new variant of COVID-19 in people who travelled from abroad.

During the UAE government's latest media briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Omar Al Hammadi the official government spokesman emphasised the need to follow precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.

In light of the emergence of the new emerging strain of the coronavirus in Britain, and in conjunction with the continuous investigations by the health sector, it has been proven that there are limited cases in the country and received from abroad.#CommitToWin

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 29, 2020

“We affirm the need to continue to adhere to all precautionary and preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone, with an emphasis on the continuity of the efforts of the health sector and its workers to contain the virus and limit its spread,” Al Hammadi said.

From December 23 to December 29, more than 900,000 examinations were conducted nationwide of which 8,491 cases were confirmed positive. The mortality rate in the UAE remains at 0.3%, one of the lowest rates in the world.

We affirm the need to continue to adhere to all precautionary and preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone, emphasizing the continued efforts of the health sector and its workers to contain the virus and limit its spread.#CommitToWin

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 29, 2020

He revealed that the UAE is prepared to facilitate and support the distribution of 6 billion doses of vaccinations around the world, with this capacity increasing to 18 billion by the end of 2021.

From 23 to 29 December, more than 900,000 examinations were conducted across the country, and the number of confirmed cases was 8,491 which means the rate of positive cases out of the total number of examinations remains at 1%. #CommitToWin

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 29, 2020

“The UAE has applied the highest scientific standards in its treatment of COVID-19, surpassing all countries of the Middle East and Africa, and it is the tenth in the world in the effectiveness of treatment,” he added.

The country uses laser scanning technology to diagnose COVID-19 disease, and was one of the first countries to use plasma and stem cell therapy to stimulate recovery.

In the third phase of clinical trials of the Russian and Chinese vaccines, the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine achieved positive results, with the efficacy rate reaching 86%؜, and the preliminary results showed 100% protection against the occurrence of moderate and severe infections.

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 29, 2020