Coronavirus: UAE reports 698 new cases and 407 recoveries

Authorities say 37,000 tests were carried out in the Emirates since Wednesday

A medical worker puts away a Covid-19 swab test at one of the Mussaffah testing facilities. Victor Besa / The National

An Abu Dhabi resident goes for a jog along the Corniche in the capital as the government eases movement restrictions. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi residents wear mandatory masks as they walk in the city. Victor Besa / The National

Safety instructions are on display outside Al Awir fruit and vegetable market in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A person wearing protective face mask and covering his face with laptop bag on a hot day in Bur Dubai area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Indian citizens queue to check in at the Dubai International Airport before leaving the UAE on a flight back to their home country on May 7. Inbound flights for UAE residents have also begun operating from select cities. Karim Sahim / AFP 

Passengers from an Emirates flight from London queue before being checked by health workers at Dubai International Airport on May 8. Karim Sahib / AFP

Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public but with safety measures in place to protect shoppers and staff from contracting Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi has reopened to the public from 12pm to 9pm. Measures remain in place to keep shoppers and staff safe. Victor Besa / The National

Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi will be open from midday to 9pm. Supermarkets and pharmacies will be open from 9am to midnight. Victor Besa / The National

Workers pass by Al Mina vegetables and fruits market in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A security guard is given a free Covid-19 test at one of the Mussaffah testing centres. Victor Besa / The National

Workers line up to receive a coronavirus test at the Mussaffah industrial area in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE announced 698 new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the country’s total to 21,084.

Authorities said 37,000 tests were carried out in the Emirates since Wednesday, with more than 1.5 million people having been screened so far.

The country announced a further 407 recoveries and two deaths in the past 24 hours.

To date, the UAE has recorded 6,940 recoveries and 208 deaths.

In a bid to control the spread of the virus, Dubai's health authority will ask recovered Covid-19 patients to donate blood for the treatment of those people in a serious condition.

Three clinics have been set up to collect convalescent plasma, as it is called, for use in hospitals across the emirate.

Each recovered patient would donate 600ml of blood, which would be split into three 200ml doses, enough for two to three patients with "medium to severe symptoms".

Yesterday, in his latest Ramadan Majlis, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said he was confident the country was on the verge of a "positive breakthrough" in its bid to contain the pandemic.

Dr Fatima Al Attar, head of international health regulations at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, said that while some countries with advanced healthcare systems have been hit hard by Covid-19, the UAE rose to the challenge.

“On April 20 we received a report from the World Health Organisation on the effectiveness of countries’ responses to Covid-19 around the world," Dr Al Attar said

"The UAE was ranked first in the Mena region and 9th globally."

As Dubai eases Covid-19 restrictions, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, called for a government restructure as part of plans to prepare the country for a post-coronavirus future.

On Wednesday, after the conclusion of a three-day government meeting to develop a post-virus strategy, Sheikh Mohammed said the structure and size of the government must be reviewed.

"We may merge ministries … and change bodies," he said on Twitter.

The UAE also granted a 10-year golden residency visa to more than 200 doctors in Dubai for their work to protect the emirate against Covid-19.

The order was made on Wednesday by Sheikh Mohammed, in appreciation for the healthcare workers' "selfless dedication to caring for infected patients".

Globally, the number of confirmed cases nears 4.4 million, with more than 297,000 deaths. More than 1.5 million people have recovered.

The WHO’s emergencies chief said it is possible the coronavirus may be here to stay, warning it’s impossible to predict when the pandemic might be controlled.

“This virus may never go away,” said Dr Michael Ryan. Without a vaccine, he said, it could take years for the population to build sufficient levels of immunity against the virus.

Meanwhile in China, citywide testing began in Wuhan, after officials were given 10 days to test everyone in the city of 11 million.