Coronavirus: UAE announces 376 new cases, 170 recoveries and four deaths

The UAE has now recorded 3,736 cases, with 588 recoveries and 20 deaths

A fruit vendor with his watermelons at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A vegetable vendor fixes his gloves at the Abu Dhabi Fruits and Vegetables Market during the Coronavirus epidemic. Victor Besa / The National

A key worker wears a facemask as he walks passed a brightly coloured mural in Media City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A deserted part of JBR, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A digger does some work on an empty Jumeirah beach, this is normally a very popular spot for beach goers, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Abu Dhabi Civil Defence and Police sterilisation drive in Mussafah. Victor Besa / The National

A poster on Sheikh Zayed Road shows a family wearing facemasks tell people to Stay at home, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A man walks past fishing boats in Ajman wearing a mask amid the coronavirus crisis. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A market worker boxes up fish at Ras Al Khaimah's dock. Antonie Robertson / The National

Empty streets in RAK as residents stay home for a third week. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of the Northern Emirates must stay home from 8pm to 6am, but can leave home to shop for essentials outside of those times. Antonie Robertson / The National

A sign outside Dubai Parks and Resorts offers support to frontline workers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

No entry signs at the closed Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A street cleaner sanitises gutters at Marina Mall car park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The normally busy beaches of Abu Dhabi have been deserted in recent weeks. Victor Besa / The National

A shopper picks up essentials at Carrefour in Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall. Dubai residents must apply for a permit to leave home. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The only vehicles on Dubai's roads are delivery trucks, bike couriers and minibuses taking essential personnel to and from work. Victor Besa / The National

The empty Al Maktoum Road near Deira Clock Tower in Dubai. It would normally be one of the city's busiest streets. Pawan Singh / The National

A 24-hour stay-home order and the disinfecting of streets has left Dubai streets mostly deserted. Pawan Singh / The National

The famous Deira Clock Tower at the heart of the city's old town. Pawan Singh / The National

The bridge to Meydan hotel and racecourse stands empty on Saturday evening. Reem Mohammed / The National

A shopkeeper waits outside his dress store in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An ambulance on a street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A quiet street leads to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Grand mosque in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The empty bridge to Meydan during daytime. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai residents must remain indoors at all times, unless they have a permit for essential shopping. Reem Mohammed / The National

Residents queue outside a supermarket in the Muraqqabat area of Deira in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A customer enters a pharmacy in Dubai. Pharmacies and supermarkets are the only stores allowed to remain open to the public. Pawan Singh / The National

A man rides his bike across the street in Al Ain. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A medical worker in a booth prepares to swab residents at a drive-through test centre in the Dubai suburb of Khawaneej. AFP

Dubai skyline during lockdown. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man takes a taxi after leaving the Business Bay Metro station, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

An awareness board on Meydan road, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The empty Kite Beach area of Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A healthcare worker crosses an empty street in Bur Dubai while wearing a mask amid the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A gentleman crosses an empty street in Oud Metha in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Men in face mask walking by nurseries in Warsan. Reem Mohammed / The National

The UAE announced 376 new cases of coronavirus, a further 170 recoveries and four deaths on Saturday.
The latest figures bring the country's tallies to 3,736 total cases, 588 recoveries and 20 deaths.
Speaking at the UAE's regular media briefing, Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the health sector, said recovered patients are playing their part in helping those fighting the disease to get back to full health.
She said blood donated by those who had beat Covid-19 was being used in plasma treatment to boost the speed of recovery for those who recorded positive tests.

"We have used plasma from recovered patients to treat severe cases, and are studying the effectiveness of this treatment.

“I would like to clarify that here in the UAE we have started using the plasma treatment, in addition to other treatments.”

Dr Al Hosani also spoke about the use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in treatments and its effectiveness being under observation. She said that the UAE was leaving no stone unturned in efforts to identify the best treatments and research studies that would assist in medical efforts.

Dr Al Hosani said it was not possible to predict when the UAE will reach its peak of coronavirus cases.

But she said officials are assessing the success of stay-home measures continually – and would relax restrictions when possible.

She implored those displaying symptoms to not take the condition lightly - and to get tested while adhering to physical distancing practices and wearing gloves and masks.

Dr Al Hosani assured the public that most people with "mild" cases of the virus could expect to recover within 21 days.

“The majority of the cases in the country they are simple and mild cases and we thank God for that,” Dr Al Hosani said.

She said the country is testing "around the clock" both at 13 Covid-19 drive-through testing centres in operation and at medical centres.

“We would like to affirm to all those who have a high fever or any respiratory symptoms such as fever, coughing or sneezing to go directly to the medical centre to take the test,” she said.

Dr Al Hosani offered her condolences to those who had sadly lost their lives after contracting Covid-19.

She said funeral services must be attended only by a limited number of family members to ensure the safety of the wider public.

“There’s a very important message. The funeral and the prayers is to be limited to only a very small number of family members. You can express your condolences through phone calls in order to ensure the safety and health of everyone.”

She reiterated that the public must adhere to stay-home measures and only leave the house for essential reasons to help the country contain the highly-contagious virus.

“Success today continues through applying physical distancing and the sterilisation programme, and that you all abide by the quarantine and only leave your houses for essentials and work.

“Let us adhere to these measures.”