Middle East Experience

Oman has recorded an increase in daily coronavirus cases with 322 new infections confirmed over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 4,341 on Thursday, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Of the new cases, 80 cases are Omanis and 242 are of different nationalities.The country’s death remains at 17, the health ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, a total of 1,303 people have recovered so far.The ministry continues to urge individuals to adhere to isolation procedures and to social distancing to help slow the spread of the deadly virus.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“With our commitment to health isolation and social distancing, we will prevent ourselves, our families, and our community from the spread of the coronavirus,” the ministry said in a statement.Oman announced its first two cases of the virus on February 24 after two Omani women were infected during a trip to Iran.Strict measures were imposed throughout Oman to prevent the further spread of the virus. A lockdown had been implemented in the capital Muscat and was extended until the end of May. Ramadan mass gatherings were also banned throughout the Sultanate.Read more:Two strains, 70 mutations of COVID-19 exist in the UAE, study findsOman imposes lockdown on industrial area housing migrant workersOman extends Muscat lockdown until end of May
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Oman sees increase in daily cases, 322 new infections over past 24 hours

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said that healthcare workers are the 'UAE's source of pride'
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: UAE on verge of 'positive breakthroughs' in Covid-19, says Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

The United Arab Emirates has recorded a steady increase of 698 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 21,084, the health ministry announced on Thursday.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.The relatively low death toll reached 208 after two new fatalities were recorded. Meanwhile, an additional 407 people who were infected with the virus have recovered, raising the recovery total to 6,930 so far.The ministry continues its efforts in expanding the testing capacity with 37,000 new tests administered which led to detecting the newly confirmed cases, according to the health ministry. Health authorities have performed over 1.5 million tests so far.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The UAE has the third highest number of cases in the GCC as of Thursday, right behind Qatar with 25,149 cases as of Wednesday. Saudi Arabia currently has the highest number of infections in the region with 42,925 cases, but like the UAE, the Kingdom has maintained a relatively low death rate at 0.6 percent.The UAE was the first in the wider Middle East to record a case of coronavirus, a 73-year-old Chinese woman on January 29. The announcement was followed shortly by several other cases, most of whom were also Chinese tourists.Read more:Social distancing could make flying more expensive - Dubai airport CEODubai awards permanent 'Golden Residency' visas to 212 COVID-19 doctorsDubai ruler: UAE after coronavirus will focus on medical, food, economic security
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE cases climb over 21,000 with 698 new cases, 6,930 recoveries

A court decision to extend the pre-trial detention of hundreds of political prisoners without their presence raised the ire of rights organizations calling for the detainees’ immediate release.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egyptian rights activists sound alarm over pre-trial detention of political detainees

Saudi Arabia recorded 2,039 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its highest daily increase yet, raising the total to 46,869, according to the health ministry.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.There was a significant increase of 125 percent in children testing positive for the virus recently, and 100 percent increase in females. Spokesman Dr. Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said the increase is a result of social gatherings and non-compliance with preventative measures implemented.“This shows that these types of social activities, and these gatherings, are highly dangerous and negatively affected a group of individuals,” he said during the daily press conference.Read also: Four families in Saudi Arabia infected after group Ramadan iftarForty-one percent of the newly confirmed cases are of Saudi nationals. Most cases previously recorded in the Kingdom were of people living in densely populated residential areas, especially neighborhoods that house laborers, according to the health ministry.“This increase [in Saudi nationals testing positive] is also associated with social gatherings,” the spokesman added.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia recently banned gatherings and groups of more than five people under new regulations to slow the spread of the virus. Gatherings that include more than one family and individuals who are not members of the same family are not allowed.The spokesman continued to urge people to only go out when absolutely necessary and to avoid crowds in order to not contract or spread the virus.The Kingdom has maintained an increasing number of recoveries while the death toll remains relatively low. The ministry announced 1,429 new recoveries raising the total to 19,051. The death toll climbed to 283 after 10 new fatalities were recorded over the past 24 hours.In its latest efforts to slow the spread of the virus, Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it will impose a 24-hour lockdown for the Muslim Eid holiday when Ramadan ends next week.Read more:Four families in Saudi Arabia infected after group Ramadan iftarSaudi Arabia to impose 24-hr lockdown for Eid holidays when Ramadan endsSocial distancing could make flying more expensive - Dubai airport CEO
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 2,039 new cases, highest daily increase so far

The COVID-19 coronavirus that has swept the world is less deadly than experts had first thought, and governments implemented lockdown measures too quickly before we could study it, according to a leading German virologist Professor Hendrik Streeck.Speaking to UnHerd’s Lockdown TV, Streeck said his study of a coronavirus outbreak in a German county revealed a fatality rate of 0.24-0.36 percent, which is significantly lower than the 0.8-0.9 percent estimated by prominent British epidemiologist Neil Ferguson.Calculating the exact death rate of COVID-19 is central to policymakers and scientists who are trying to calculate the impact of lifting restrictions on movement.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appCountries around the world have begun to gradually come out of lockdown, while others have partially reimposed lockdowns due to case counts spiking shortly after restrictions were lifted.If Streeck’s death rate is correct, governments could afford to lift measures more quickly and widely with fewer deaths. In contrast, if Ferguson’s higher estimate is correct, policymakers may be inclined to continue lockdown measures to keep the death rate lower in the short-term.Read more: What counts as a death from COVID-19?The death rate also helps estimate how many people have already caught the virus, which is key to working out to what extent a population may have developed natural immunity through catching the virus already.While these estimates are central to policymaking, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that we still don’t know if a person who contracts COVID-19 develops an immunity or not, the strength of the immunity or how long it may last.Read more:Research predicts ‘end date’ of coronavirus crisis in US, UK, Italy, France, SpainCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia's low death rate below 0.7 pct, compared to global 7 pctCoronavirus not an epidemic in UK as only 0.24 pct of adults infected: Oxford expertsStreeck’s studyStreeck’s study focused on a small German town where a “super spreading event” occurred at a carnival, Streeck told UnHerd TV.Streeck led the study in the community of Gangelt, in the Heinsburg region close to the border with the Netherlands, which had been dubbed “Germany’s Wuhan” because of the high number of cases there.However, Streeck’s team found that while the number of cases was indeed higher than in other areas in Germany, the death rate was noticeably lower than what Johns Hopkins had recorded as the national average.“In total, we analyzed 405 households and 919 individuals. And what we found was that 15 percent – not 3.1 percent, but 15 percent – of the population of Gangelt was infected already,” Streeck told UnHerd.Read more: Coronavirus: New York survey finds fatality rate at 0.5 pct, 14 pct have antibodiesGiven that seven people had died in the region, this meant the case fatality rate was 0.36-0.37.Streeck said this number reflected a conservative approach, as the study had underrepresented people who had tested positive already. Taking this into account, he said the real number is likely 0.24-0.26 percent.The study used several different testing methods, including a questionnaire, antibody test, and a swab.While Streeck said that the 15 percent rate was a reflection of Gangelt specifically, he said the death rate could be applied globally, and could be used to calculate infection rates elsewhere.However, he did acknowledge that the fatality rate varied place by place based on demographics.One commentator also raised questions whether such global conclusions could be drawn from such a small case study.UK example - lockdown too early?Streeck’s study has extensive implications when applied to a case study such as the UK.Using 0.3 as the midpoint of Streeck’s range, the 30,000 deaths from coronavirus in the country would imply that 10 million people might have been infected – around a sixth of the population, taking 30,000 as 0.3 percent of 10 million. In contrast, using 0.85 in line with Ferguson, the number is only 3.5 million – making any chance of majority immunity further off.These numbers have even greater consequences if the death toll is higher than the official number, which many have suggested is likely, due to different methods of recording deaths. Taking Streeck’s lowest number of 0.24 and 50,000 deaths in line with higher estimations, the conclusion is that over 20 million people have had the virus in the UK.Both the death rate and the percentage of the population already infected are central considerations for policymakers trying to work out how long to maintain lockdowns.Read more: Shutdowns need to last at least 3 months to curtail coronavirus deaths: Harvard studyWhile most scientists and policymakers have argued for lockdowns as essential to limiting the spread of coronavirus, there have been some dissenting voices.Swedish Professor John Giesecke has argued that lockdowns are ineffective in the long-term, will be difficult to exit, and are politically dangerous by giving too much power to governments.Streeck added to Giesecke’s warnings by suggesting that governments such as the UK had entered lockdown too quickly. This is because the impact of any change in measures, whether initiating a lockdown or easing restrictions, can only be measured after two or three weeks.He also said that it is not feasible to try to suppress the virus until the emergence of a vaccine – which according to optimistic estimates could be deployed as early as the end of 2021 – as there is no guarantee that one will even be successfully developed.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus is less deadly than we thought, says German expert

Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Iran-aligned Lebanese Hezbollah, accuses Israel of targeting missile-manufacturing sites in Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hezbollah chief says Israel fighting 'imaginary battle' in Syria

Kuwait has registered 947 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours as the country continues its total lockdown.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Kuwait sees coronavirus jump as lockdown holds

Ismail Haniyeh has confirmed talks with Israel for a prisoner swap via Egypt and has urged Saudi Arabia to release Palestinian detainees in the kingdom..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hamas chief confirms Israel prisoner swap negotiations, demands Saudi Arabia release Palestinian detainees

Yemen's camps for internally displaced people present ideal breeding grounds for the novel coronavirus, as chances of proper sanitation or social distancing are slim..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Fear of virus grows in Yemen's squalid camps