Middle East Experience

Fund will help supply hygienic and sterilised products to most vulnerable
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE-based Fine Hygienic Holding sets up m relief fund

Passengers must adhere to safety procedures for repatriation flights from Dubai to four destinations
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Emirates airline resumes flights with passenger warning

The UAE reports 277 new coronavirus cases and one new virus-related death in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 2,076, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The new death is of an individual of Asian origins who died due to complications, the spokeswoman for the ministry Dr. Farida al-Husseini said.Meanwhile, 23 people have recovered from the virus, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 167.An increase in the number of cases is expected as the UAE continues to use its extensive contact tracing system and as thousands of tests are carried out, al-Husseini added.Since the nationwide curfew was extended and a 24-hour curfew was imposed in Dubai, online purchases have been facing a lot of pressure, al-Husseini said.The UAE government is working closely with the private sector and outlets to facilitate the delivery of online purchases and ensure products are delivered faster, she added.Also read: Do you have to wear a mask? The answers to all your UAE coronavirus questions hereAl-Husseini urged citizens and residents to continue to adhere by instructions issued by the Ministry of Health, including refraining from social gatherings.She also advised families to not take children with them when shopping for essentials to decrease the risk of infection, adding that only one member is allowed to shop for essentials at a time.Dubai Police on Sunday urged people to register for a movement permit on a new website it launched, including essential workers and any individual who wants to leave the house to buy essential products such as food or medicine.Read more: Coronavirus: Dubai launches movement permit website, waives fines between April 4-5Coronavirus: Dubai announces two-week 24-hour curfew as disinfection continues
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports 277 new cases, total rises to 2,076

If you own property and bank accounts jointly with a spouse, ownership would not automatically pass to the survivor, writes Shannon Herriot, DIFC Courts Wills Service Centre
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Taking care of tomorrow: Delivering final peace of mind from the comfort of your home

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokesperson for the country's health authority, has urged residents to abide by strict social distancing guidelines
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE confirms 277 new cases of Covid-19 as death toll reaches 11

Anyone in Dubai leaving their home for essential purposes during the current 24-hour lockdown, must apply for a permit
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Walkers, cyclists in Dubai need permit during Covid-19 lockdown

As winter in the northern hemisphere turns to summer, air conditioning units begin to rattle into life as people begin to feel the heat. However, with the coronavirus pandemic underway, some have asked the question as to whether it is safe to use air conditioning units and whether the novel coronavirus can be transmitted via air ducts.Studies conducted after the SARS outbreak in 2003 suggest that some infections occurred in high-rise buildings as contaminated air rose through the buildings’ airshafts into different apartments. COVID-19 is from the same family as SARS, known as coronaviruses, and the two share many similarities.“So far, we have not seen any evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread through air conditioning systems. The virus is spread through droplets that can be suspended in air for short periods of time before settling on surfaces,” said Dr. Maher Balkis, associate staff physician of infectious diseases at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.A study conducted in China earlier in the year on a cluster of coronavirus cases all originating from the same restaurant suggested that the virus did not spread through the air conditioning system.“However, it is possible that air currents caused by air conditioning may have allowed droplets in the air to spread further than they otherwise might,” Balkis explained. “These findings are backed up by what we know of other viruses such as influenza, which are not known to spread through air duct systems, rather, they spread through close contact and infected droplets,”Coughs and sneezes may travel between five and 200 times further than previously thought, found a 2014 study by MIT. This could exacerbate the problems associated with preventing the spread of coronavirus.“When you cough or sneeze, you see the droplets, or feel them if someone sneezes on you,” John Bush, a professor of applied mathematics at MIT, and co-author of a new paper on the subject told MIT News at the time.“But you don’t see the cloud, the invisible gas phase. The influence of this gas cloud is to extend the range of the individual droplets, particularly the small ones,” he added.Coughing and sneezing are two of the main symptoms of the coronavirus that has spread rapidly across the world. There are over 1.2 million infections worldwide, with over 70,000 dead. Borders have been closed, businesses shuttered, and people have been told not to leave home as authorities move to slow the virus’s spread and put in place extensive social distancing measures.“By maintaining physical distance and avoiding interacting with sick people, particularly in confined spaces, the risk of infection can be minimized,” Balkis concluded.Read more:Coronavirus: Does washing fruit and vegetables with soap prevent infection?Tiger infected with coronavirus: Can animals, pets spread COVID-19?How much you are exposed to the coronavirus affects disease severity: Experts
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Can it spread through air conditioning?

Pedestrians and cyclists in Dubai will also have to register for a movement permit during the 24-hour restrictions as part of a nationwide sanitation program, according to an update on the newly launched Dubai permit website.Walking and cycling have been introduced on Monday among the transport options given for people to click on while applying for permission to go out.Dubai imposed on Sunday 24-hour restrictions as part of a nationwide sanitation program to contain the spread of the coronavirus.Dubai Police urged people to register for a movement permit on the website https://dxbpermit.gov.ae/permits.“The movement permit website is for general members of the public who are allowed to go out for essential needs such as buying food and medicine, medical emergencies and for COVID-19 testing,” the Supreme Committee of Crisis & Disaster Management in Dubai said in a statement.The committee clarified that those people working in the sectors exempted from the traffic and movement restrictions are not required to register on the new website.Read more:Why is coronavirus killing more men than women?How much you are exposed to the coronavirus affects disease severity: ExpertsCoronavirus: Countries begin hijacking medical goods over supply shortage fears
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Even pedestrians and cyclists can’t go out without permission in Dubai

Residents and citizens looking to take their dog for a walk during Dubai’s 24-hour national sanitation program can apply for a permit through the emirate’s new website, multiple users reported.On Saturday, Dubai extended its previous nighttime curfew to all day and night for two weeks, subject to renewal, as authorities step up lockdown measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.The UAE has also instituted various fines for those that do not abide by new quarantine rules, including a 2000 UAE dirham fine for leaving the house for reasons unrelated to work or for necessity, and a 1,000 UAE dirham fine for not wearing a face mask in closed spaces.The UAE Ministry of Health has since advised that everyone should wear a mask when in public for safety, and to practice good social distancing measures to control the spread of the virus.Individuals who work in vital sectors are exempt from the curfew and can obtain a letter from their employer stating their movement to and from work.Those working in some sectors are allowed to commute to work between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Those sectors include: banking, finance, and currency exchange sectors, maintenance services, laundry services (for select outlets), and social welfare services.The UAE has reported 2,076 infections of coronavirus with 11 fatalities. There have been 167 recoveries so far.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai launches movement permit website, waives fines between April 4-5Coronavirus: Dubai announces two-week 24-hour curfew as disinfection continuesCoronavirus: Even pedestrians and cyclists can’t go out without permission in Dubai
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai approves permits for dog walking

The Ministry of Health has designated a special hotline for Egyptians isolated at home and in quarantine to offer psychological support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt offers psychological help amid social isolation