Middle East Experience

The coronavirus death toll in Saudi Arabia climbed to 9,362 after 1,088 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.Five people have also died of the virus since Saturday, bringing the total number of virus-related fatalities in the Kingdom to 97.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The new deaths are all of non-citizens and involve four people who lived in Mecca, and one person who resided in Jeddah, the ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said.The patients who died of the virus were between the ages of 37 to 64, and the majority suffered from chronic illnesses.Read more: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia to launch unified travel permit on Tuesday, says ministryCoronavirus: Saudi council urges Muslims in Ramadan lockdown to pray at homeA total of 251 new cases were found in Mecca, 210 cases were detected in Jeddah, 194 were reported in Dammam, 177 were confirmed in Medina, and 123 were reported in Hufof.The other new cases were reported in other areas across Saudi Arabia.So far, 1,398 people have recovered from the virus in the Kingdom.Al-Abd al-Ali said that 17 percent of the new cases were of Saudi Arabian citizens, while 83 percent were non-citizens.Saudi Arabia has been ramping up its efforts to detect the virus and has been actively conducting screenings across the country.More than 180,000 tests have been conducted in Saudi Arabia so far, al-Abd al-Ali said.The number of daily reported cases have doubled in the Kingdom since last week, but the health ministry spokesman that the rapid increase is the result of medical authorities conducting more tests than they previously had been doing across the country.The ministry said that 50 percent of new cases reported on Friday were detected after medical teams conducted coronavirus screenings in several neighborhoods in Mecca and Medina.Saudi Arabia’s health minister had said earlier this month that the Kingdom’s coronavirus cases could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks based on four different studies conducted by Saudi and foreign experts.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 1,088 new cases, five new deaths

Saudi Arabia’s coronavirus daily case numbers have more than doubled over the past few days due to mass field testing, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Just last week, the Kingdom was recording about 500 new cases every 24 hours. But since Friday, when the health minister announced that medical teams had begun actively conducting mass coronavirus screenings in densely populated neighborhoods, the Kingdom has reported a growing number of cases every day.On Saturday, the Kingdom reported its highest daily increase yet with 1,132 new cases – more than double the 518 new cases confirmed on Thursday, the day before mass screening was announced.“We are conducting mass [screenings] of COVID19, to proactively increase efforts to reach populations within neighborhoods and individuals in their homes,” Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah said on Twitter.Medics in personal protective equipment (PPE) have been checking temperatures of residents and conducting coronavirus swab tests for people in their homes.Read more: Saudi Arabia records 1,132 new cases in 24 hoursOn Friday, the health ministry announced that 50 percent of the 762 new cases were detected through field testing. A day later, the percentage increased to 65 percent of the 1,132 new cases recorded.Most confirmed coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia are of people living in densely populated residential areas, especially neighborhoods that house laborers, according to the health ministry.Health Ministry Spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said increasing the testing capacity is a preventative measure that helps with early detection, therefore leading to faster containment.“As we continue expanding our efforts, we anticipate an increase in the number of cases in the upcoming days,” the health ministry said in a statement.Saudi Arabia’s health minister had said earlier this month that the Kingdom’s coronavirus cases could reach between 10,000 to 200,000 within weeks based on four different studies conducted by Saudi and foreign experts.The ministry has also been producing and distributing handouts in different languages to provide public health information to expatriates living in the Kingdom.Saudi Arabia has so far confirmed 9,362 cases, 1,398 recoveries and 92 deaths.Read more: Saudi Arabia reports 1,088 new cases, five new deathsSaudi Arabia cases could reach 200,000 within weeks, says ministerEgypt to suspend Ramadan group iftars, activities, says Ministry
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia daily cases more than double since field testing

More than two thirds of the world’s population are now living under some form of lockdown or quarantine with their movement restricted. In many countries, life has changed dramatically as police patrol public space, socializing is forbidden, and gyms and parks are closed.While many people have struggled to adapt to the new status quo, the changes are less abrupt for members of one profession – astronauts, who are used to living in isolation in confined spaces.Astronauts are placed in regular quarantine before every trip to space to prevent the chance of an illness spreading in a confined, remote space environment.Al Arabiya English spoke with one of the UAE’s two astronauts, Sultan AlNeyadi, to discuss his experience with quarantine procedures and how to maintain a positive mindset.“We spent two weeks in Baikonur before the mission, we had to stay in one place for two weeks doing the regular routine from exercising and doing all the preparation for the flight and it was only in one place. You could not go outside,” said AlNeyadi, referring to the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in Kazakhstan. Baikonur, which is operated by Russia’s space program, is a major hub for space travel with regular flights of Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).AlNeyadi noted that perhaps it was his experience of quarantine at Baikonur that meant when lockdown procedures came into force in the UAE earlier this month “in a way it felt natural.”Below he shared his top advice for quarantine back here on Earth.Use time wisely, stay in touchAlNeyadi encouraged those living under lockdown to use the extra time that they have at home wisely.“I think after we finished from this crisis many people will regret the free time that they had. I encourage them to do all the postponed stuff that they wanted to do for a long time like reading a book or maybe following the diet or finishing a project that they wanted to do,” he said.The UAE astronaut stressed the importance of staying in touch with friends and family too, for both theirs and your mental health.“Personally, I make sure to call a friend every day, a different friend every day,” he said.Under lockdown, it is also important to focus on personal mental health and stay positive, AlNeyadi added.“It’s very important to engage yourself with other activities, rather than sitting on, probably, social media and just following every bit of news about the coronavirus. You have to have that mental mindset or mental health, to stay away from negativity and be productive in many ways,” he said.AlNeyadi also urged people to focus on their physical health, noting that exercising regularly and eating well will help to come out of lockdown positively.“You can pretty much eat anything, and it’s a very dangerous thing. You have to control your diet … and stay healthy and physically active. It’s a very important thing,” he said.Important to obey the curfewAlNeyadi said that it is very important that everyone follows the procedures laid out by the authorities.Dubai announced on Thursday new restrictions for movement permits as the emirate aims to combat the spread of the coronavirus. On Friday, the emirate announced an extension of its national disinfection program for a week.The program was implemented last month and required residents to comply with a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily which was later extended to cover the 24-hours in a day.“I think if we all follow these procedures, the disease will finish quicker than what we think,” he said.He also urged everyone in the UAE to “stay positive and stay away from negativity. … we should only focus on ourselves, trust in the programs that are run by the authorities, and follow the small procedures of self-hygiene, such as washing hands, eat healthy and stay active.”The UAE has so far confirmed 6,781 coronavirus cases as of Sunday as it ramps up testing throughout the country. The death toll has remained relatively low at 37 and a total of 1,286 people have recovered.Most patients who recovered followed healthy habits that strengthened their immune systems and suffered only from minor symptoms, the health sector spokeswoman Dr. Farida al-Hosani said on Wednesday.Most patients with few or no symptoms recovered within two to three weeks in the UAE.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE reports 479 new cases, 4 deaths, after conducting 23,000 new testsCoronavirus: UAE gets 5.5 million hydroxychloroquine pills from IndiaMost recovered coronavirus patients in UAE followed ‘healthy habits’: Spokeswoman
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: An astronaut’s guide to surviving the coronavirus lockdown, quarantine

Initiative allows residents to donate to help vulnerable families amid Covid-19 challenges
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Sheikh Mohammed orders 10 million meals to be distributed to families during Ramadan

The Central Bank of the UAE has ordered lenders to accelerate the account opening process to a maximum of two days for SMEs
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Lenders urged to use bn economic package, support SMEs

EAS Catering has cooked and delivered over 15,000 meals a day to individuals including frontline medical staff
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Etihad Airways catering arm to provide meals for those impacted by Covid-19

As hundreds of countries have gone into lockdown to curb the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Muslims across the world are preparing for the holy month of Ramadan.Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, marks the period when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset as a show of gratitude and reflection. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on April 23.Families and friends often gather after a long day of refraining from eating and drinking to share a meal, and restaurants and cafes are often bustling with people and mosques are full of believers partaking in group prayers.However, this year Ramadan will be observed differently as restaurants, coffee shops, shisha cafes have been ordered to shut their doors, and mosques have advised Muslims to pray at home to maintain social distancing practices.But amid the pandemic, here’s a list of things you can do to make the most out of this Ramadan:Set realistic goals Before the start of Ramadan, set goals for yourselves that you know you will be able to accomplish. These could include praying right after the call to prayer ends, reading two to five pages of the Quran every day, or donating a specific amount of money to the needy per week.Perfect your prayers Since governments around the world have asked most employees to refrain from going to the office, there is no need for people to rush through their prayers to get back to work. Ask your coworkers to cover your shift for ten minutes so you can take your time while praying.Hold a virtual iftar The end of a fasting day is often marked with a gathering of friends and family to share a meal. However, since social distancing has been keeping people apart, holding a virtual iftar could be a fun alternative to catch up with relatives and loved ones.Try new recipes During Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat from dusk to dawn. Trying out a new recipe every day could give you and all those you live with something to look forward to at the end of your fast.Hand out mini care packages to food delivery drivers If you are not much of a cook, and often opt for ordering from restaurants, you could hand out mini care packages to food delivery drivers. You could include a meal, dates, and a bottle of water in your package.Donate to the less fortunate If you’re looking to pay it forward this Ramadan, consider donating money, clothes, or food to your local charities. Look up food banks and organizations around your city that might be able to pick up donated items from your home to avoid going outside or find one you can visit nearby.Restrict the time you spend on social media Lockdowns and curfews have left us with very little to do inside our homes to keep ourselves entertained, so it is unsurprising that social media usage has surged globally, according to data provided by Statista. Instead of spending hours scrolling through Twitter or Instagram, take that time to reflect, read the Quran, or pray.Read more:Coronavirus: Expert advice on whether Ramadan fasting during the pandemic is safeEgypt’s Azhar says it’s not permissible to avoid fasting in Ramadan amid coronavirusCoronavirus: Saudi scholar council urges Muslims in Ramadan lockdown to pray at home
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Spending Ramadan in lockdown? Here’s what you can do during the month

Death toll stands at 41, while there are 6,781 confirmed cases
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: Four more deaths reported in UAE, 479 new cases

Incase the person is not contacted within a week, they should contact the DHA call centre..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Combating coronavirus: What to do if you have interacted with a confirmed Covid-19 case in UAE?

Civil Defence has steralised labour camps through 490 field visits
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: 75% of Dubai disinfected