Abu Dhabi: UAE’s Minister of Health and Prevention, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, announced that thanks to the unlimited support of the UAE's leadership, the country has managed to cross the barrier of 5 million laboratory tests for Covid-19, and that the survival rate for those infected with the disease has risen to 90 percent.
This is a clear indication of the effectiveness of the proactive strategy that was adopted by the UAE Government to confront the epidemic and limit its spread, said the minister.
The announcement was made during a media briefing held in Abu Dhabi on Monday during which Al Owais stressed that the UAE's policy to increase the number of laboratory tests has greatly contributed to the early detection and treatment of cases, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
He praised the role of the front line medical teams and first responders and their great efforts since the beginning of the pandemic Al Owais added that the early detection of cases and the application of advanced treatment protocols contributed to a continuous increase in the rates of recovery, with the ratio now reaching nearly 90 percent, giving the UAE among the highest rates of recovery in the world.
Al Owais stressed that social visits and communication without observing the rules of physical separation constitute the greatest challenge in the battle against Covid-19, and he asked that the public's commitment to observing preventive measures would help to preserve the current successes and help to achieve greater achievements in the future.
With regard to the development of vaccines, Al Owais explained that the UAE has achieved, in cooperation with a large group of international partners, a remarkable development as the third phase of the clinical trials that were launched during last July is continuing.
During the briefing, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, the official spokesperson for the UAE Government, said that the latest developments showed that the challenge to overcome Covid-19 is ongoing, as health workers continued their efforts during the Eid Al Adha period to ensure the safety of all members of society.
Dr Al Hammadi stressed that the health care system in the UAE aims to create an environment free from the complications and consequences of COVID-19, which requires complete harmony between the vision adopted by the government and each individual's awareness of the importance of the measures being taken.
As for the new cases, Dr Al Hammadi announced that the number of new daily examinations reached 27,811, and revealed that 164 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded, all of which were receiving all necessary care in health care institutions. The latest figures bring the total number of recorded cases to 61,163.
Dr Al Hammadi also announced 248 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries among COVID-19 patients in the country to 54,863.
He added that no deaths were recorded for the third day in a row, noting that the number of patients receiving treatment reached 5,949 patients.
Dr Al Hammadi explained that the immune system is the backbone of protection in the human body, as it forms the defensive cells that respond to viruses, noting that the immune system is exposed to weakness with age. This explains why the elderly suffer complications due to Covid-19.
Dr Al Hammadi stressed that a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in protecting the body and leads to the strengthening of the immune system, noting that it is necessary to protect it from negative external interventions that include smoking, sleep disorders, lack of exercise, weight gain and psychological factors, in addition to not eating a healthy diet of vegetables and fruits.
Dr Al Hammadi also warned against using products that claim to stimulate the immune system against the virus, as they often exploit people's fear and anxiety.
He stressed the need to continue to wear masks because of their ability to limit the spread of the virus, which is transmitted mainly through direct contact with the infected, and through spray coming from coughs and sneezes.
Dr Al Hammadi said the need remains for everyone to wear masks, especially those suffering from respiratory symptoms, those who mix with Covid-19 patients, as well as those who care for the elderly and those who suffer from chronic diseases.
As for close contact with relatives and friends if their Covid-19 result is negative, Dr Al Hammadi stressed the negative result means that the person was not infected at the time of the examination, and does not necessarily mean that they are still negative after a few days.
He noted that infection can occur at any time, even on the day of taking the sample, which means the need to follow precautionary measures and physical distance remains in all circumstances and at all times.