Coronavirus: UAE conducts more than one million Covid-19 tests

At least 20 per cent of all Covid-19 cases in the UAE have now recovered and less than 1 per cent of those screened were found to have the virus

Empty roads in Dubai Marina in mid-April. 24 hour restrictions on leaving home which were in place since March were eased for Ramadan, allowing people to leave home from 6am to 10pm. Pawan Singh / The National

A pedestrian wearing a mask crosses the main street on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A police barrier stands in front of Atlantis Hotel, one of the largest hotels in the country. Pawan Singh / The National

The tunnel underneath the palm is usually packed with traffic on a Friday. Pawan Singh / The National

A solitary shopper walks past the yachts quay at Dubai Marina. Pawan Singh / The National

A resident looks out from his apartment building in Dubai Marina. Pawan Singh / The National

A security guard takes the body temperature of a delivery driver in the Al Furjan suburb. Pawan Singh / The National

Talabat delivery drivers, who have permission to operate at all times of day, collect their orders in Dubai Marina. Pawan Singh / The National

A sign in Fujairah urges people to 'stay home' as people do their shopping. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Dubai Police officer stops the vehicles and checks for permit to leave home near Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah. Pawan Singh / The National

A man has his body temperature reading taken upon arriving at the police station of Naif in Dubai. AFP

The closed open air gym at Skydive Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dibba Al Hisn’s seafood market. Reem Mohammed / The National

A sign warns people to stay home along the Dubai Marina. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE has now conducted more than a million Covid-19 tests since the outbreak. Of these, 9,813 cases have been identified, representing less than 1 per cent positive results.

Authorities also confirmed a further 532 new coronavirus cases on Saturday as well as seven deaths and 127 new recoveries.

The new figures take the UAE’s totals to 71 deaths and 1,887 recoveries. At least 20 per cent of all Covid-19 cases in the UAE have now recovered, said Dr Amna Al Dhahak, spokeswoman for the UAE government.

She said that, while some lockdown measures have been lifted partially for Ramadan, “it does not mean life is fully back to normal and precautions must remain in place – specifically wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.”

Earlier, Abdulrahman Al Owais, the Minster of Health and Prevention, said the UAE would continue its robust approach to testing to identify new cases as quickly as possible and prevent the virus’ spread.

“Increased Covid-19 testing helps us to be proactive in identifying cases, particularly those who are asymptomatic,” he said.

“It is natural that the increase in screening is accompanied by an increase in the number of new cases.

“This is an indication that we are on the right path to reduce the spread of the virus.”

To aid in identifying cases, Ms Al Dhahak called on the public to download the Al Hosn UAE app, or digital fortress, which uses Bluetooth to locate other devices with the app downloaded and ultimately helps authorities with contact tracing.

The app, released this month and updated last week, tells authorities if the user has come into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

Users need their Emirates ID and phone number to authenticate the app, which also allows individuals to receive medical test results directly to their device.
A QR code supplied by the AlHosn UAE contains within it proof of an individual's health status. The app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, allows authorities to quickly contact those who have come into proximity of the disease so they can be retested.

Dr Alawi Al Sheikh-Ali, spokesman for the Emirates Scientists Council, said the UAE was currently conducting more than 58 studies to help understand the virus and how it spreads. He said samples have been taken from more than 240 local patients from a variety of age groups and during various stages of their recovery to understand how different strains of the virus determines their symptoms. This information will help medics protect those most at risk, he said.

Local researchers and scientists are working to develop diagnostic tools and more effective ways to treat patients, to reduce strain on the country’s healthcare system.

Other studies include simulating transmission patterns and the psychological affect of the virus on society.

He said a group of researchers at UAE University were studying severe cases of the virus to find ways to curb the country's mortality rate.

Dr Al Sheikh-Ali said that, because the virus is zoonotic – transmitted from an animal to a human – researchers are looking into how to prevent future diseases that may also come from animals.

"We must be prepared to face similar pandemics and understand the transmission process. We must understand how this virus was able to be transmitted to people," he said.