UAE National anthem evokes a feeling even in those who've left

Our readers have their say on a special performance by musicians online, big tech, testing for coronavirus, birds, and roaming bears

19 musicians from 12 countries took part in a special rendition of the UAE national anthem. Hamad Altaee / YouTube     

With reference to Sophie Prideaux's piece 'Music connects everyone': musicians around the world perform incredible rendition of UAE national anthem (April 11): I listened to Hamad Altaee playing together with other musicians from around the world. Having lived in the UAE for 20 years but now living in Australia this music meant a lot to me in the time of Covid-19. My thanks to Hamad for his efforts in producing this musical arrangement.

Janine Sheard, Applecross, Australia

This was beautifully done. I love it.

Rawaa Kalassina, Beirut, Lebanon

Big Tech conducting contact tracing is not without repercussions

With regard to Deena Kamel's report Apple and Google team up on contact-tracing technology to help contain Covid-19 (April 11): can't help but wonder about privacy rights though.
Waria Fuentes, Abu Dhabi

I had the symptoms back in late December – intense fever, etc. What I would like is an antibody test to see if I have developed an immunity or if my blood plasma could help someone else not contract it.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Comfort in numbers: testing extensively is a good sign 

Regarding Chris Maxwell and Anna Zacharias's article Coronavirus: UAE announces 376 new cases, 170 recoveries and four deaths (April 11): recovery rates in the UAE are extremely good, 97 per cent to be exact. It is a very good effort. It may be still too early to be confident but things are looking good as of now.

Kirill Kossinski, Dubai

Good job! God bless the UAE.

Houmaid Ag Joholee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Both the percentage of testing and recoveries in the are very high, thankfully. We need to understand that this is a positive sign.

Shaina, Dubai

#StayAtHome and appreciate the beauty of nature

With reference to your piece Coronavirus: With humans in hiding, nature takes back empty city streets - in pictures (April 10): over the past two weeks, I have been watching Laughing Doves nesting in the olive tree in the balcony of my apartment near the Creek. The eggs have now hatched and today I saw a pair of tiny Laughing Doves. I wanted to share with others the beauty of nature even in these tough times. The birds built the nest 14 days ago and since then I have been watching their moves and have patiently waited for the big moment which arrived today.

Tereza Machova, Dubai

Off-peak travel and a bear's day out 

Regarding Taylor Heyman's report Grizzly commuter: bear fails to catch a ride at Turkish tram station under lockdown (April 12): poor thing, must have been out looking for the bare necessities.

Belinda Wallington, Muscat, Oman