Coronavirus: Indian healthcare workers return to UAE from Kochi

The 57 UAE residents were stuck in India after borders closed in late March

Indian medical workers arrive in Dubai from Kochi, after being stranded abroad since March when borders closed. Courtesy: Aster Healthcare

Dozens of Indian healthcare workers have flown to Dubai from Kochi, India, to support colleagues in the fight against Covid-19.

The 57 staff from Aster Healthcare and Medcare are UAE residents who became stuck in India while on annual leave when borders closed in March. Internal and international flights were suspended to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The medics arrived in Dubai at 1.30am on Sunday.

"The returning Aster and Medcare medical staff from India would strengthen our efforts to provide quality care to Covid-19 patients in UAE," said Alisha Moopen, deputy managing director of Aster DM Healthcare.

“They would join the batch of 88 critical care medics who arrived in Dubai earlier and are actively involved in UAE government’s efforts to provide the best care to Covid-19 patients."

The UAE announced 491 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to almost 42,000.

The UAE embassy in New Delhi obtained approval from the Indian government for their return to the Emirates.

“We are thankful to the UAE government, Dubai Health Authority, UAE Embassy in India and Indian Consulate in Dubai for undertaking all the measures to expedite their safe return," said Ms Moopen.

Indian residents of the UAE have been stranded on both sides of the Indian Ocean for the past three months but special repatriation flights have been operating.

On June 10, the Indian government announced an additional 58 flights would be scheduled to repatriate Indian citizens from Gulf countries, increasing the total to 165 flights.

Two flights left Abu Dhabi on Friday, carrying 366 Indian citizens from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode and Vijayawada.

On Thursday, another 515 citizens were repatriated on flights from Abu Dhabi to Trivandrum and Mumbai, and from Dubai to Srinagar. Passengers included senior citizens, pregnant women and stranded tourists.

Emiratis were repatriated when borders closed but UAE residents were stranded overseas. Last week, the country launched an initiative to bring 200,000 residents back to the Emirates.