![Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VO4FI3GWVI23KZLQGWSR7RHZ3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d39ba747aa86c23546b5650a534b8b6c175b7dedc837e51c89ba63e9b6951e8&width=400&height=225)
![People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24G35OPXB7A4YILJJMNRIYECHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=040c38ccc846144f1f9f5d5b87f49c4b5314bb6a7447ab86f348d2856385353b&width=400&height=225)
![Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZR5FEIVRLJRP4362IZ4KRIYT6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b0f32ac9f95cc637c8adddb34799a7a99d56eb52550103ef772d0752d1be146&width=400&height=225)
![Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6FGVBBY3Q3ECLNDJMHNDPIFIK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e3cd38db482145a3d841d283247ca211ea110679adb1a32654ea1f9cfdf514b&width=400&height=225)
![Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBCGVDXU3WUNN34FSON2EWUTAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb80cc5f87d1f87140be87ba09f2034387e1dee112cc4f3d161b5fa08c5f16d1&width=400&height=225)
![A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OK2VBIWRVUSGVQX2WVJSITBNVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=10ceda680d902d91c805acb62cada49448d65e08736e471ec92d9c4ef604d718&width=400&height=225)
![People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EYGBGZPGVP6ULHOOMWE5I4VUTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b558a83569c55d3e84e768de08c54c43815cad73641580f8b7821a6c282154c&width=400&height=225)
![A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUA6H4VU4FE56K45AW43MKMZTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f579bc561b9499827ad238cc3dfdb31bd5e01d49b5bff1f9df84df848d54f29d&width=400&height=225)
![A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/447GC4OL4FUAOQILZRFFHKWZ7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8ba33d7e5c3dcd0d6e7b1c5616df01717e337966bffb7375be7375cb018034b0&width=400&height=225)
![Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARN7IRKW4PNQ2NNQSCFGPIYCAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=be3446d60bcd41443d5ba4f0d29f3d298c315c56b9262e2eb08e7243d9ceab44&width=400&height=225)
![Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2SZQE5Y2UKE5PRTD3EVH6RFNKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a0bea79c3f1511eb2b55bff14ddcec86ee4816f95f7499e133fdeaa3c22eac3&width=400&height=225)
![EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QDCQHMBWNUMKEU3HB77UG4DZBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=47f37d22639c894fcd90eb88a87a53f7776e56ce1ff8d8c57ef7ddced54b91bd&width=400&height=225)
![A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VRXJBT6JW7NW4EPF72OIA75SBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3da40c04d3e39fe605cf6e44bc4c563f319035ef2e13abe5a930556c2b73a6c7&width=400&height=225)
![Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3HGOZU7FJTL7XIQREFCAZ6D2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5867e92a439a87e00e04a80e657049deeacefc0191c9550ed2d9b41ea27d9379&width=400&height=225)
![Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VO4FI3GWVI23KZLQGWSR7RHZ3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d39ba747aa86c23546b5650a534b8b6c175b7dedc837e51c89ba63e9b6951e8&width=400&height=225)
![People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24G35OPXB7A4YILJJMNRIYECHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=040c38ccc846144f1f9f5d5b87f49c4b5314bb6a7447ab86f348d2856385353b&width=400&height=225)
![Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZR5FEIVRLJRP4362IZ4KRIYT6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b0f32ac9f95cc637c8adddb34799a7a99d56eb52550103ef772d0752d1be146&width=400&height=225)
![Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6FGVBBY3Q3ECLNDJMHNDPIFIK4.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e3cd38db482145a3d841d283247ca211ea110679adb1a32654ea1f9cfdf514b&width=400&height=225)
![Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBCGVDXU3WUNN34FSON2EWUTAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb80cc5f87d1f87140be87ba09f2034387e1dee112cc4f3d161b5fa08c5f16d1&width=400&height=225)
![A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OK2VBIWRVUSGVQX2WVJSITBNVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=10ceda680d902d91c805acb62cada49448d65e08736e471ec92d9c4ef604d718&width=400&height=225)
![People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EYGBGZPGVP6ULHOOMWE5I4VUTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b558a83569c55d3e84e768de08c54c43815cad73641580f8b7821a6c282154c&width=400&height=225)
![A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUA6H4VU4FE56K45AW43MKMZTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f579bc561b9499827ad238cc3dfdb31bd5e01d49b5bff1f9df84df848d54f29d&width=400&height=225)
![A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/447GC4OL4FUAOQILZRFFHKWZ7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8ba33d7e5c3dcd0d6e7b1c5616df01717e337966bffb7375be7375cb018034b0&width=400&height=225)
![Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ARN7IRKW4PNQ2NNQSCFGPIYCAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=be3446d60bcd41443d5ba4f0d29f3d298c315c56b9262e2eb08e7243d9ceab44&width=400&height=225)
![Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2SZQE5Y2UKE5PRTD3EVH6RFNKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4a0bea79c3f1511eb2b55bff14ddcec86ee4816f95f7499e133fdeaa3c22eac3&width=400&height=225)
![EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QDCQHMBWNUMKEU3HB77UG4DZBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=47f37d22639c894fcd90eb88a87a53f7776e56ce1ff8d8c57ef7ddced54b91bd&width=400&height=225)
![A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VRXJBT6JW7NW4EPF72OIA75SBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3da40c04d3e39fe605cf6e44bc4c563f319035ef2e13abe5a930556c2b73a6c7&width=400&height=225)
![Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3HGOZU7FJTL7XIQREFCAZ6D2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5867e92a439a87e00e04a80e657049deeacefc0191c9550ed2d9b41ea27d9379&width=400&height=225)
![Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VO4FI3GWVI23KZLQGWSR7RHZ3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d39ba747aa86c23546b5650a534b8b6c175b7dedc837e51c89ba63e9b6951e8&width=400&height=225)
Overweight Covid-19 patients at higher risk of complications, UAE researchers say
Researchers at RAK Hospital found obese people, smokers and those who eat junk food are more likely to develop severe illness
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
February 15, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic