Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates over 3 mln people as infections surge rapidly
January 30, 2021, 11:23 am

Coronavirus: UAE vaccinates over 3 mln people as infections surge rapidly

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus, in Dubai. (Reuters)

More than 3 million people have been vaccinated against the coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates, as the country intensifies its vaccination campaign amid a surge of infections, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said on Friday.

“Crossing the 3 million mark amid an intensive nationwide vaccination campaign is yet a new significant milestone that has been achieved in record time to place the UAE among the world’s leaders of vaccine rollout, “ the Minister of Health and Prevention, Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser al-Owais, said.

Infections in the Gulf country have been rapidly rising in the past few weeks, with officials reporting more than 3,000 new cases per day.

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus at St. Paul's Church in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)

On Thursday, the UAE recorded its highest single-day increase of COVID-19 cases with 3,966 new cases in 24 hours.

Officials have urged the public to take the vaccine and adhere to coronavirus countermeasures to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

“The rapid and effective rollout of the COVID vaccines is a testimony to the success of the National Vaccination Programme launched by the country to ensure the vaccine availability in most of the government and private health establishments and centers in order to make it easier for the largest segments of society, including Emiratis and residents, specially the elderly, people with chronic diseases and first-line heroes, with the ultimate goal of ensuring acquired immunity across the nation to help curb the disease and stem its fallout,” the minister added.

A woman gets tested before receiving a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus at St. Paul's Church in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)

The tourist-hub Dubai announced new updates to its travel requirements last week.

UAE residents, GCC citizens, and visitors will now be required to do a PCR test prior to their arrival in Dubai irrespective of the country they are coming from.

The city also introduced limits to social gatherings and suspended elective medical procedures, as well as ordered stricter measures to be imposed in restaurants and gyms.

Britain on Thursday announced a travel ban on non-citizens arriving from the UAE and severe quarantine measures for citizens coming in from there to stem coronavirus cases, hitting Dubai holidaymakers and expatriates.

source: Tamara Abueish

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.