Middle East Experience

Blue and White wants Litzman's post
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Ya'acov Litzman leaving Health Ministry

The United Arab Emirates reported 536 new cases of coronavirus and five new coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, according to the UAE Ministry of Health on Twitter.The death toll in the country is now 76, with the total number of cases at 10,349. There have been 1,978 recoveries, including 91 in the last 24 hours.The rise is a similar increase to the previous day, when 532 new cases and seven deaths were recorded.The announcement also said that the UAE had conducted 35,000 tests. On Saturday, the total number of tests in the country surpassed 1 million.For all the latest coronavirus news visit our dedicated pageCases continue to rise amid relaxed restrictionsThe UAE has relaxed restrictions on movement in line with the beginning of Ramadan on Friday, despite cases continuing to rise.The nationwide curfew, originally lasting from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., has been reduced to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the official WAM news agency announced on Thursday.Before Ramadan, Dubai residents were unable to leave their homes without a permit. Under the new regulations, they do not need a permit and are allowed to have family gatherings of up to 10 people. One outdoor activity such as a jog or bike ride is allowed per day. Gyms, mosques and cinemas among other facilities remain closed.Abu Dhabi has also eased restrictions, partially reopening malls.Read more:Coronavirus: Kuwait confirms 183 new cases, one new deathDubai eases coronavirus restrictions as it marks Ramadan: 10 questions answeredSaudi Arabia partially lifts coronavirus curfew nationwide, Mecca lockdown remainsTesting continues to increaseThe rising number of cases in the UAE could reflect an increased detection rate due to more tests being carried out across the country.More than a million people have now been tested in the UAE, which has a population of almost 10 million.The high percentage of tests has been enabled by the expansion of testing facilities across the country since late March.Beginning with a drive-thru test center opened by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on March 28, the country has now established similar drive-thru centers including in Fujairah, Al Ain, and several in Dubai.The country has also established a massive testing laboratory, in coordination with genomics company BGI and Abu Dhabi technology company Group 42 (G42).The country has also launched a home-testing service for people with disabilities.Most recently, it established two testing centers for workers in Abu Dhabi's industrial area of Musaraf.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE records 536 new cases and 5 deaths, similar rise to day before

The United Arab Emirates has launched a new integrated coronavirus app named ‘ALHOSN UAE’, which will serve as the official digital platform for COVID-19 tests in the country, state news agency WAM reported on Saturday.Jointly launched by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Abu Dhabi Health Authority and Dubai Health Authority, the new app combines the features of STAY HOME and TRACE COVID, the two apps previously launched by the department of health.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad al-Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, stated that the new app harnessed the latest mobile phone technologies to help control and contain the coronavirus. Al-Owais called on all people in the UAE to download the app and encourage their families and friends to do the same.“We can contain this virus only if we all act together, each one giving the others protection and peace of mind” he added.Currently, the app can be downloaded and installed by anyone living in the United Arab Emirates using a supported Bluetooth-enabled smartphone running on Android or iOS.Read more: UAE’s coronavirus tracing app – Is it compulsory and other questions answeredIt helps people to receive COVID-19 test results and other updates on their phones.The app which uses Bluetooth to pick up signals from nearby mobile phones that also have the app installed will help people to know whether they have crossed paths with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. This enables the authorities to react faster and reach out to possibly infected people to render the necessary health care, and to potentially minimize the spread of the virus.The app can also track people in home quarantine to know whether they adhere to the instructions and avoid contact with other people.Read more: Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi launches app to track cases, curb outbreakDubai Islamic Affairs: Ramadan Taraweeh prayers can be done at home amid coronavirus
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE launches new ‘ALHOSN UAE’ official app to track COVID-19

Saudi Arabia recorded its highest daily new cases with 1,223 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 17,522, the health ministry spokesman said on Sunday.The ministry also recorded three new fatalities after one Saudi national and two non-Saudis died over the past 24 hours, raising the relatively low death toll to 139. The ages of the deceased range between 39 and 72 years old.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The Kingdom will continue to see an increase in cases as medical teams continue their testing efforts, the spokesman added. He also said field testing has led to the discovery of clusters of infections throughout the country.Meanwhile, an additional 142 people recovered within the past 24 hours, raising the total number of recoveries to 2,357.Even though Saudi Arabia has relaxed some restrictions and curfews with the start of the Muslim holy month Ramadan, authorities continue to urge people to only go out when necessary, and to wear a face mask, maintain physical distancing and to avoid crowds while in public.Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia initially imposed a 24-hour curfew and lockdown on the cities of Riyadh, Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran, and Hofuf and throughout the governorates of Jeddah, Taif, Qatif, and Khobar on April 6.Citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia were only allowed to leave their homes only for essential needs like food and health care and stay within their residential neighborhood from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily during the 24-hour curfew over the past several weeks.Late last week, authorities in the Kingdom slightly revised its coronavirus curfew timings for the month of Ramadan allowing residents to go out for necessary needs between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.The spokesman said authorities continue to monitor and evaluate the precautionary measures and will adjust accordingly in terms of increasing or reducing restrictions.Read more: Saudi Arabia partially lifts coronavirus curfew nationwide, Mecca lockdown remainsVideo: Mecca from the skies on the first day of Ramadan amid coronavirus restrictionsUAE records 536 new cases and 5 deaths, similar rise to day before
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records highest daily cases so far with 1,223 infections

Saudi Arabia will continue the suspension of international and domestic flights until further notice, with the exception of emergency cases, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, an interior ministry spokesman said on Sunday.Train, bus and taxi services also remain suspended and people employed in the state sector will continue working from home, the spokesman told a news conference broadcast on state television.Saudi Arabia also on Sunday partially eased a 24-hour curfew in place to combat the coronavirus pandemic, except for in hotspots including the Muslim holy city of Mecca.The curfew will be relaxed between 9am and 5pm and malls and retailers will be allowed to reopen in all regions of the kingdom until May 13, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.But a round-the-clock lockdown will be maintained in some areas including Mecca, which has reported the kingdom's highest number of infections in recent days despite being sealed off.Many countries around the Middle East and North Africa have announced a similar easing of lockdown restrictions as Muslims mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan.On Saturday the health ministry said deaths from the respiratory illness had risen to 136, while confirmed infections rose to 16,299 with 2,215 people reported to have recovered from the illness.Last month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading in Islam's holiest cities.Read more:Saudi Arabia partially lifts coronavirus curfew nationwide, Mecca lockdown remainsIn landmark decision, Saudi Arabia to eliminate flogging punishmentVideo: Mecca from the skies on the first day of Ramadan amid coronavirus restrictions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia extends suspension of flights, public transport

Saudi Arabia has signed a $265 million deal with China to massively expand the Kingdom’s coronavirus testing capacity, official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.The deal, which includes providing 9 million COVID-19 tests, was signed following a phone call between Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to SPA.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.China will provide equipment and materials to conduct the 9 million tests, in addition to 500 specialized Chinese experts and technicians to test people in the Kingdom and train Saudi medics.The Kingdom will establish six large regional labs throughout the country, including a mobile lab with the capacity to test 10,000 people daily, the news agency reported.The Chinese health teams will ensure the quality of the tests for a period of 8 months in addition to conducting comprehensive field and lab tests with the Saudi health teams.Experts will analyze the genetic map of several coronavirus samples in the Kingdom. They will also analyze the population’s immunity map through a sample of 1 million people who will have a “significant impact in supporting the nation’s plans in managing the pandemic,” according to SPA.The Kingdom has also purchased tests from the United States, Switzerland and South Korea in order to reach its testing target of 14.5 million people, 40 percent of the Kingdom's population, SPA reported.Saudi Arabia has so far confirmed 17,522 coronavirus cases with 2,375 recoveries. The death toll reached 139 as of Sunday, according to the health ministry.Earlier this month, Health Minister Dr. Tawfig al-Rabiah said the Kingdom's coronavirus cases could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 based on four different studies conducted by Saudi and foreign experts.Read more: Saudi Arabia records highest daily cases so far with 1,223 infectionsSaudi Arabia cases could reach 200,000 within weeks, says minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi signs 5 million China deal to expand Kingdom’s testing capacity

Delivery app says it is facing its own financial challenges amid Covid-19
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Zomato says reducing commission fees would 'compromise' its survival

Ministry of Health and Prevention reveals 10,349 cases in country, 1,978 people have recovered
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports five more Covid-19 deaths, 536 new cases confirmed

Israel allowed some businesses to reopen on Sunday and said it was considering letting children return to school as part of trial efforts to ease coronavirus restrictions and help the country's struggling economy..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Israel reopens some businesses and considers resuming school year

Government guidelines are 'clear cut' according to the founder of D3 restaurant Akiba Dori
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: More Dubai restaurants to start opening from tomorrow