Middle East Experience

Kuwait reported 487 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total in the country to 31,131.The Ministry of Health also reported 10 new deaths, raising the death toll to 254.Of the 487 new cases, 195 were Kuwaitis, 81 were Egyptians, 67 Indians, and 47 Bangladeshis.The Ministry announced that a further 1,005 people had recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 19,282, with 11,595 cases currently active.Lower rise than yesterdayThe increase of 487 on Saturday was significantly lower than the 723 new infections reported by the Ministry of Health on Friday, when the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kuwait surpassed 30,000.On Wednesday, Kuwait said it had a 53.6 percent recovery rate for coronavirus patients.Nearby Bahrain announced 389 new coronavirus cases on the same day, while Oman announced 930.The figures come as some governments ease restrictions put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus, while others maintain them.Within the UAE, Dubai has moved to reopen restaurants, while next-door Abu Dhabi has sealed its borders.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait reports 487 new cases including 81 Egyptians, 10 new deaths

Saudi Arabia reported 3,121 new cases of the novel coronavirus, its highest daily increase so far, bringing the total number of cases in the Kingdom to 98,869, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The capital Riyadh recorded the biggest number of new cases, where a total of 900 infections were confirmed in the last 24 hours.Jeddah reported the second highest number of new cases, with 572 cases found.The other cases were detected in cities and provinces across the Kingdom.The health ministry said that 34 people died of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia in the past 24 hours. This raises the virus-related death toll in the country 676.Meanwhile, the number of recoveries in the Kingdom rose to 71,791 after 1,175 people recovered from the virus.The health ministry had warned on Friday that it was monitoring the number of cases reported in Riyadh to determine whether reimposing strict restrictions, including a curfew, would be necessary.The Ministry of Interior on Friday announced that a curfew from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. would be imposed on the city of Jeddah due to a large increase in the number of cases reported in the area.All workplace attendance, in both the public and private sector, has been halted, and prayers in mosques around the city have been suspended.Health Minister Dr. Tawfiq al-Rabiah urged the public to adhere to precautionary measures, adding that maintaining social distancing practices and following the rules would be the only way to prevent infection for now.Read more:Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reimposes restrictions, curfew in JeddahCoronavirus: Over 85,000 Saudi Arabian citizens want to return to the KingdomCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends prayers in Jeddah mosques
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 3,121 new cases, highest rise yet

Inspectors from Israel's Nature and Parks Authority are currently investigating the incident.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli hikers turn Lifta natural spring into bubble bath

The Qatari FM said the government is currently consulting with the organizing committee, preparing to alter the designs of the nearly completed stadiums to adhere to health official instruction.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Despite coronavirus, Qatar says 2022 World Cup will go on as planned

The two were evacuated to Sheba hospital with the man suffering from multi-system trauma.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Man jumps from building after allegedly stabbing a woman

Over 35 groups have called on Jews and Arabs to attend the demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moving forward with the Trump administration’s “Deal of the Century.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jews and Arabs protest against annexation in Tel Aviv

For 13 of the 15 years of Lebanon’s civil war, Maher al-Kharrat drove ambulances and treated the injured with the Lebanese Red Cross under the constant threat of being caught in crossfire. Now he is on the frontlines of a new battle – the one against the novel coronavirus.“There is no fighting now, but we are still at war,” the 54-year-old told Al Arabiya English.Kharrat is one of a team of around 50 volunteers who work around the clock to man the phones of the COVID-19 hotline at Rafik Hariri Hospital – Lebanon’s largest public hospital and the hub of the country’s coronavirus response.Read more: Coronavirus: Lebanon sees highest single-day jump in COVID-19 casesThe basement call center in southern Beirut, housed in the headquarters of state-run telecoms company Ogero, receives an average of 100 calls per day, spiking to 500 on the busiest days.Operators were trained on how to answer questions on the novel coronavirus, guide patients on quarantine procedures, follow up on suspected cases and coordinate with doctors and ambulance services to transport patients with severe symptoms to hospital.When an operator receives a call, they can search key terms into the network’s COVID-19 database, updated regularly in coordination with medical staff at the hospital, to make sure the caller gets accurate advice and information.For more coronavirus coverage, visit our dedicated section.“This is essential for this disease that in one way or another came out of the blue,” said Dr. Firas Abiad, the hospital’s director. “People have a lot of anxieties about COVID-19, because we still don’t really know much about it.”A huge responsibilityWith the volunteers taking a new call around every five minutes, the work can be stressful, tiring and emotionally draining.“When I get home I am exhausted,” said 22-year-old public health graduate Tracy Israel, who signed up to volunteer at the call center after struggling to find full-time employment.“There’s this weight of a huge responsibility to make sure people get what they need and feel at ease.”Read more: Lebanese women with foreign spouses denied coronavirus aidDespite the efforts of the team to allay the fears of anxious callers by calmly and reassuringly giving detailed advice or guidance, there are times when they just cannot get through.“People under stress can get aggressive, and sometimes they scream down the phones at us and make threats,” Kharrat said.In late May, the Red Cross veteran suffered a heart attack and had to undergo surgery. But just four days later, he was back in his chair, answering calls and directing less experienced volunteers.“I had to come back to help, I know many people out there are suffering,” he said.Read more: Coronavirus: Lebanon introduces fines for not wearing face masksOla Bazzi, a 23-year-old volunteer who describes herself as naturally shy, was nervous about handling different personalities over the phone when she first joined the team in April, but said she has learned to empathize.“The aggressive people make up a tiny minority of callers, but I understand them in one way or another – it’s a stressful time.”In April, the Lebanese Health Ministry began conducting random coronavirus tests across the country to gain a better idea of the virus’ spread.For the last two weeks, the Rafik Hariri Hospital hotline has been responsible for giving out the results to those who have been tested.“This is when the pressure really started,” Bazzi said. “People call and expect the result straight away, even though we tell them the test takes 48 hours to be processed.”Smart softwareThe call center is run by the National Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NCEI), which provided software to forecast busy periods, analyze calls in real-time and provide recommended responses to common queries.Read more: Coronavirus lockdown adds to Lebanon’s culture sector crisis“This means that operators can always give the same answers to the same questions,” Maan Barazy, NCEI’s president said. “We don’t leave anything to chance.”The specialized algorithm prompts operators to follow up with patients who have suspected symptoms, ensuring they can quickly get the care they need should their condition deteriorate. It also allows staff to trace everyone a patient has been in close contact with should they test positive for COVID-19.When a patient needs to be admitted to hospital, their symptoms and medical history collected by operators at the call center are then shared with the staff at the hospital’s coronavirus unit.“This way, the ER team knows exactly what to expect when the patient arrives,” Barazy said.The system also helps monitor patients who have been discharged from the hospital that no longer need urgent care but are still contagious.For Dr. Mahmoud Hassoun, who heads the hospital’s dedicated coronavirus unit, the smart software is where the call center really comes into its own.“The algorithm does not make mistakes,” he said. “It’s a real added value for our hospital to help us curb the spread of the virus.”The hospital at the heart of the battleThe Rafik Hariri University Hospital has become the reference center for the country’s COVID-19 response as it was the first hospital to receive coronavirus patients when the first case was confirmed on February 21.The hospital has long suffered from chronic underfunding and under-resourcing and staff staged protests earlier this year to demand unpaid salaries and better living conditions.Read more: Coronavirus puts spotlight on Lebanon’s ailing public healthcare systemFor Abiad, the hospital’s response to the coronavirus crisis, including the creation of a dedicated call center has helped to change its reputation and public image.“We have been able to build trust between us and the public and really address the needs of our patients.”
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: From the coronavirus frontlines: Lebanon’s hotline volunteers work around the clock

Saudi Arabia’s recovery numbers continued to increase as it saw a downward trend with its decreasing daily new cases.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The Kingdom recorded 2,460 new recoveries while it detected only 1,581 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry on Friday.A total of 57,013 individuals have recovered so far in Saudi Arabia, while the death toll remained relatively low at 458 fatalities, the health ministry confirmed in a statement.Saudi Arabia confirmed 81,766 total infection cases so far, however, only 24,295 – about 30 percent –are active cases.Easing restrictionsSaudi Arabia has lifted some restrictions on movement for residents within the country and is now allowing travel between its provinces in a partial easing of its coronavirus lockdown, the Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday.Read more: Saudi Arabia’s measures to combat coronavirus since February: A timelineMore shops, including wholesale, retail and malls, will also be allowed to reopen in a further lifting of the lockdown restrictions, as long as all precautionary measures are adhered to.All activities that don't allow social distancing remain banned until further notice.The Kingdom also set mandatory guidelines for mosques as they reopen for daily prayers as well as Friday prayer.Saudi authorities said mosques will open for the daily prayers and the weekly Friday prayers during the second stage of the easing of restrictions starting next Sunday, May 31, until Saturday, June 20.According to two circulars issued by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, mosques across the Kingdom with exception of those in Mecca have to abide by several measures including social distancing measures and timings.Al Arabiya English's Ismaeel Naar contributed to this report.Read more:Saudi Arabia sets guidelines for malls, industrial sector, as it reopensCoronavirus: Here are the 10 guidelines as Saudi Arabia prepares to reopen mosquesCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia records downward trend with 2,235 new cases
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records more recoveries than new cases

The United Arab Emirates conducted 36,000 tests over the past 24 hours and detected 638 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 33,170, the health ministry announced on Friday.The ministry also said 412 individuals have recently recovered taking the total number of recoveries to 17,097. Meanwhile, an additional two people had previously tested positive for the virus died, raising the relatively low death toll to 260.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.The country had been recording around 700-900 new daily cases since the government eased restrictions earlier this month; however, the daily new cases have been on a downward trend recently.The UAE has slowly been easing restrictions and lockdowns that were implemented to slow the spread of the deadly virus. Earlier this month, the government reduced a 24-hour lockdown that was part of a national disinfection program. Restaurants, malls and businesses were allowed to resume working hours as long as strict preventative measures were followed, including only being allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity in order to limit crowding.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Thursday, Dubai announced the reopening of public beaches and parks. On Monday, the emirate announced the reopening of gyms, cinemas and other business as well.Despite easing of measures, all individuals will still be required to wear face masks as well as maintain social distancing requirements of no less than two meters while in public. Children under the age of 12 and the elderly over 65 remain banned from going to public places including malls and supermarkets.Read more:Dubai outlines guidelines for malls reopening, including children banDubai re-opens four beaches, major parks starting May 29Emirates allows booking flights from Dubai to 12 Arab states from July 1
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE conducts 36,000 tests, detects 638 new cases raising total to 33,170

The United Arab Emirates will adjust its nightly curfew starting Saturday, May 30, official WAM news agency reported on Friday. The new timing for the national coronavirus disinfection drive will now last from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The decision was made by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in order to allow people extra time to complete necessary tasks, according to WAM. It was also decided in an effort to help the economy slowly recover and revive the commercial activity in order to avoid disrupting basic important sectors in the country, WAM reported.Grocery stores and pharmacies will still be allowed to operate 24 hours a day, as was previously announced.Businesses are required to implement social distancing measures and operate at a 30 percent capacity in order to avoid crowding. Individuals are required to wear masks while in public and keep a distance away from others of at least 2 meters.Public gatherings remain banned and family visits are discouraged for everyone's safety.The country slowly began lifting restrictions in recent weeks following 24-hour curfews that were part of the national disinfection program.The UAE has so far confirmed 33,170 cases; however, 17,097 of those infected have recovered so far. Meanwhile, the death toll remains relatively low with 260 fatalities.Dubai reopens businesses, beaches as Abu Dhabi prepares for reopeningEarlier this month, Dubai allowed hotel beaches to open and outdoor tourism and sports activities for groups of five people or less following a period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and shops have also been allowed to operate but only with a 30 percent capacity in order to maintain social distancing. Parking spaces available at malls were reduced to a 25 percent availability to limit the possibility of overcrowding. Beauty salons have also been allowed to operate but on an appointment basis only, offering only hair and nail services.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Dubai allowed gyms, cinemas and other businesses to reopen on Wednesday. Today, four beaches and major parks were open to the public for the first time in months.Despite a national curfew that was set from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., business in the emirate have been allowed to operate until 11 p.m. since reopening, but they must comply with strict precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.Neighboring Abu Dhabi last week issued guidelines for the reopening of hotels and their beaches, bars, restaurants, pools and gyms, which were previously shut under temporary measures aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.Hotels in the capital will only be able to operate at 30 percent capacity, in measures similar to the current regulations at malls in the UAE. Staff will also be tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to return to work.Read more:UAE conducts 36,000 tests, detects 638 new cases raising total to 33,170Dubai to reopen gyms, cinemas, resume economic activities starting May 27Abu Dhabi issues rules for hotel beaches, bars to reopen
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE announces updated nightly curfew from 10 p.m. starting May 30