Middle East Experience

The cooperation between the different expertise of the scientists involved proved to be a key for the success of the study.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli researchers develop anti-coronavirus coating for surfaces

“If the trial is successful, we will be able to start using the drug in some coronavirus patients or for other diseases,” the professor told the 'Post.'
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israeli team finds way to inject drug against COVID-19-related infections

The current plan is to ask the Knesset Intelligence Subcommittee to extend the program until June 16 or until a new Knesset law is passed to regulate it.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gov't extends Shin Bet coronavirus surveillance, advances Knesset bill

Some of the destroyed tunnels were three kilometers long and 30 meters deep.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Egypt says it destroyed more than 3,000 Gaza tunnels

Grandfather Domenico di Massa, 72, couldn’t have been happier on Monday as he threw his granddaughter Cecilia in the air, celebrating a relaxation in Italy’s lockdown regulations.Grandmother Mariantonia Gangemi (70) looked on at the emotional reunion as the family started the first phase in getting to know each other again, wearing masks.Five-year-old Cecilia has gone two months without seeing her grandparents, normally she would have seen them on a weekly basis.“During the quarantine we were desperate,” said di Massa who had to stop briefly to hold back the tears.“Now I can’t even speak for how excited I am...too excited,” he said.Read more:Coronavirus: Governments urge parents to keep children away from grandparentsWatch: ‘Adopt a grandparent’ scheme goes virtual to help with coronavirus lonelinessCoronavirus: Italy’s ‘youngest patient’ two-month-old baby recovers, says media“When I saw her my heart stopped, it seemed to be a century since I have seen her but now I’m happy because I will take her to the sea with me,” said grandmother Mariantonia.“I got excited because I couldn’t hear or see them, I could only talk to them on the phone,” said Cecilia, who couldn’t stop smiling.Many Italians would normally leave young children with grandparents in July before talking holiday from work in August. This year it will probably be a much longer time for many Italians needing help from grandparents.“The main change will be having to go back to work and not being able to stay with my daughter because schools are closed and therefore she has to go with her grandparents and so I will see her during weekends,” said mother Josephine di Massa.“I’m lucky, she’ll be fine, she’ll be with her grandparents, she’ll go to the beach, I have a job...I can’t complain, I’m in a good situation,” she said.Schools are not due to re-open until September.Under the new rules, 4.5 million Italians can clock back in, construction work can resume and relatives can reunite.While some old rituals returned, many curbs stayed in place to try to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 that has killed almost 29,000 Italians since its outbreak emerged on Feb. 21 -- the second highest toll after the United States.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Watch: Italian Grandfather reunites with grandchild after coronavirus separation

The United Arab Emirates has detected 462 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours after 28,000 tests were administered within plans to expand the country's testing capacity, the health ministry announced on Tuesday.The latest number of new cases is a slight drop compared to recent daily tolls being over 550 new cases almost daily.Meanwhile, the UAE has maintained a relatively low death toll with an additional 9 new fatalities, raising the total to 146.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The UAE has also confirmed 187 new recoveries, mainting its higher recovery rate with nearly 21 percent of the 15,192 total infected patients having recovered so far.Game-changing researchA United Arab Emirates research institute has developed a coronavirus treatment using stem cells “which could be a game-changer in the global fight” against the outbreak, a government official announced on Friday.The Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center has developed a treatment method that regenerates lung cells and prevents the immune system from overreacting, Hend Al Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a Twitter thread.The treatment has successfully undergone an initial phase of clinical trials, with no harmful side effects, on 73 patients making full recoveries, according to the director. The Ministry of Economy granted a patent for the development of the treatment, official WAM news agency reported.Read more:UAE develops COVID-19 treatment, ‘could be game-changer’Dubai opened up 30 pct of economy, rest depends on rate of coronavirus infection: DEDLab or wet market: Where did the COVID-19 coronavirus come from?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE records 462 new cases, slight drop in recent daily toll

The coronavirus lockdown in Oman’s capital city Muscat will be extended until May 29 as the country ramps up its efforts to curb the outbreak, the Supreme Committee for dealing with CODIV-19 announced on Tuesday in a statement.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page. The lockdown will also apply to the Muttrah district and the Jalan Bani Buali town, the statement added.This is the second time the lockdown was extended in its capital.Muscat was put on lockdown on April 10 to slow the spread of the virus, but the committee later announced it would be extending the closure until the first week of May before announcing the new changes today.The committee also said on Tuesday that the 2019-2020 academic school year would be ending this Thursday, and details about the implementation of measures will be provided by the Ministry of Education later this week.Ramadan mass gatherings have been banned for the entire duration of the holy month in Oman to prevent people from contracting and spreading the disease to others.So far, Oman has reported 2,735 confirmed coronavirus cases and 12 deaths.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Oman extends Muscat lockdown until end of May

Saudi Arabia has recorded a significant increase in daily recoveries with 955 new ones while maintaining a relatively low death toll that has reached 200 with nine new fatalities, a health ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.Meanwhile, a steady increase of 1,595 new cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 30,251, according to spokesman Dr. Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.He also said 14 percent of the newly discovered cases are of females and 86 percent are males with the majority of cases recorded in the Kingdom of are of non-Saudis.As the number of recoveries continues to grow in the Kingdom, the recovery time varies from one patient to another, al-Abd al-Ali added. Some recover within days while others might take weeks, he said.The number of recoveries will eventually catch up to the number of confirmed infections, the spokesman said.The health ministry continued to urge people to maintain social distancing measures and to avoid touching one’s face.Saudi Arabia authorities have implemented several precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus in the Kingdom. However, authorities partially lifted some of those restrictions with the start of the Muslim holy month Ramadan.Malls have recently reopened and curfew hours have been reduced, however, all nationals and residents must continue to adhere to strict social distancing and precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask while in public.Authorities will continue to monitor the situation across the Kingdom and will adjust restrictions accordingly.Read more:Saudi Arabia eases coronavirus restrictions for two weeks: 6 questions answeredWith public iftars cancelled, restaurants in Saudi Arabia turn to deliverySaudi Arabia ministerial decision to cut private sector salaries by 40 percent
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 955 new daily recoveries, death toll hits 200

The neighborhood supermarket chain recently opened its first branch in Abu Dhabi
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Grandiose Supermarkets reveals UAE expansion plans

In the UAE, there have been 137 deaths of a total of 14,730 infections, a percentage of 0.93 percent
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: UAE, Saudi Arabia keep Covid-19 fatality rate below 1%