UAE reports ‘limited number’ of cases of new coronavirus variant

The UAE recorded 1,506 new COVID-19 cases and two virus-related deaths on Tuesday Dec. 29, 2020. (File/AFP)
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  • UAE records 1,506 new coronavirus cases and 2 deaths
  • Kuwait records 236 cases, Oman reports 70 cases and 2 deaths

DUBAI: The UAE has discovered a “limited number” of cases of people infected with the new coronavirus variant in the country, a government official said, the first confirmed cases of a more contagious COVID-19 mutant in the Gulf region.
Omar Al-Hammadi, an official spokesman of the UAE government, said at a press briefing on Tuesday that those affected had traveled from abroad, without specifying from where or the number of the cases.
“In light of the emergence of the new emerging strain of the coronavirus in Britain, and in conjunction with the continuous investigations by the health sector, it has been proven that there are limited cases in the country and received from abroad,” he said.
The UAE on Tuesday recorded 1,506 new coronavirus cases, the highest since October, and two virus-related deaths.
Officials from the Ministry of Health and Prevention said the total number of cases since the pandemic began had reached 204,369. The death toll is 662.
It was also announced that 1,475 people had recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. The total number of recoveries is 181,400.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said it was implementing an integrated traffic plan for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. All roads leading to the Burj Khalifa area, the site of Dubai’s renowned fireworks display, will be closed at different times according to a schedule, starting from 4 p.m. local time.

Movement around the area will be restricted, but 200 buses will be available to transport revelers to and from the event. The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station will also be closed from 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1.
Dubai Police said strict precautionary measures are being implemented across all sites to ensure public health and safety and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said it had completed all of its preparations to provide and secure integrated medical care for visitors to the event and its surrounding areas.

DHA said its planned to provide three field hospitals equipped with the latest medical equipment and supplies, in addition to specialized and qualified medical and nursing staff capable of dealing with various emergency cases during the event, which is expected to witness a great turnout from people from all over the world.
Elsewhere, Kuwait reported 236 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 150,093. The death toll remained at 932 after zero coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the previous 24 hours.

Oman’s health ministry confirmed 70 new cases and two deaths, raising the totals to 128,633 and 1,497, respectively.
Oman News Agency had reported on Dec. 21 that Omani health authorities were examining four suspected cases of the variant coming from the United Kingdom, citing Health Minister Ahmed Al-Saidi. No further details were available.

In Bahrain, zero deaths was reported, keeping the death toll to 351, while 234 new infected cases were confirmed.

The UAE has kept its borders and international flights open, while neigbouring Ƶ on Monday extended a ban on entry to the kingdom by air, land and sea for another week.
Oman reopened its border on Tuesday, while Kuwait — which had also suspended all commercial flights and closed its land and sea borders until Jan. 1, does not plan to extend the suspension.

(With Reuters)