Coronavirus: UAE winning fight against pandemic, says Ruler of Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid thanked frontline medics as he toured Dubai's Covid-19 command centre

The Corniche is slowly getting more visitors as Covid-19 restrictions ease in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Victor Besa /The National

An elderly man walks on the Galata Bridge amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

Iraqi high school students during their final exam after five months of school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, at a school in Baghdad, Iraq. EPA

More people are using bicycles as mode of transportation in downtown Abu Dhabi, UAE. Victor Besa /The National

A Syrian refugee carries her baby amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

Iraqi high school students during their final exam after five months of school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, at a school in Baghdad, Iraq. EPA

Members of the Christian community attend Mass during a procession of the Madonna of Trapani at the Saint-Augustin church in La Goulette in Tunis, Tunisia. EPA

Algerian volunteers desinfect the prayer hall ahead of the noon prayer at the El Fateh mosque in the El Afia de Kouba neighbourhood of the capital Algiers, as the country eases Covid-19 restrictions. AFP

Members of the Christian community light candles at Mass during a procession of the Madonna of Trapani at the Saint-Augustin church in La Goulette in Tunis EPA

An Algerian volunteer checks the temperature of men arriving to perform the noon prayer at the El Fateh mosque in the El Afia de Kouba neighbourhood of the capital Algiers. AFP

A Yemen student wears face mask to help curb the spread of coronavirus before taking a final-term school exam at a public school in Sanaa, Yemen. AP Photo

A patron sits at a cafe in the centre of Algeria's capital Algiers, as the country eases Covid-19 restrictions. AFP

Algerian men perform the noon prayer at the El Fateh mosque in the El Afia de Kouba neighbourhood of the capital Algiers, as the country eases Covid-19 restrictions. AFP

A Yemeni student wearing a protective face mask takes final school exams, after five months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, at a public school in Sanaa, Yemen. EPA

The UAE has turned a corner in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai said careful planning and the "heroic efforts" of frontline medics meant the end of the crisis was in sight.

Sheikh Mohammed made the comments after he toured the emirate's Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, located at Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dubai's Healthcare City.

The Ruler said "the UAE has succeeded in countering the Covid-19 outbreak and set a commendable example for the world in managing the pandemic," Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

The country’s scientific approach and the meticulous planning and collaborative spirit shown by frontline organisations helped turn the crisis into an opportunity, it said.

In particular, he thanked medical workers and other frontline staff for their role in tackling the pandemic.

“The heroic efforts of healthcare workers during the Covid-19 crisis are a source of pride and inspiration for all of us," Sheikh Mohammed said in a news release.

"We thank them for their commitment and professionalism and urge them to continue working with the same spirit of dedication until we completely overcome these challenges”.

He added: “We have great confidence in the determination of the people of this nation to [not only] rise to the highest ranks and in their exceptional ability to overcome all difficult situations, but to transform them into new opportunities for success and raise the ceiling of our dreams for the future of our nation.

"We want our people to always be at the forefront."

Dr Amer Sharif, head of Dubai’s Covid-19 command centre, briefed Sheikh Mohammed on various measures being taken to control the outbreak.

He was accompanied by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chancellor of the university, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

The UAE has used technology, contact tracing, isolated lockdowns, public information and one of the largest testing drives per capita to bring virus numbers under control.

Earlier, the UAE reported 283 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, taking the country's tally to 64,102.

Officials said 77,640 tests had been carried out across the country as part of efforts to increase the scope of screening.

Two fatalities were reported, bringing the death toll to 361.

A further 98 recoveries were announced on Saturday with 57,571 recoveries overall.

The number of daily new cases has been on a steady decline since early July but officials called for strict compliance to Covid-19 guidelines.

In other developments on Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed ordered that urgent humanitarian aid to be dispatched to Sudan to support the country’s efforts in combating the pandemic.

He also ordered another aid shipment to Nigeria to help the country fight the pandemic.

The relief shipments, which include 14 tonnes of medical supplies and 20 tonnes of food supplies, were dispatched from International Humanitarian City in Dubai.