More than 37,000 new Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the country.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Thursday announced 698 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, as well as 407 new recoveries.
More than 37,000 new Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the country, the ministry added.
The ministry also announced two new deaths from the infection.
On Wednesday, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the UAE will review the size of its government and introduce changes to make it more flexible. This came as a three-day virtual government meeting to prepare for a post-Covid-19 future ended. The meeting brought together over 100 ministers, government officials, economists and experts who brainstormed the future of six major sectors: Health, education, economy, food security, society and government.
Meanwhile, the UAE Cabinet has issued a decree to exempt violators of the law on entry and residency for foreigners from all incurred fines if their violations occurred before March 1, 2020, whether they hold entry permits and visas or were residents when they took the initiative to leave the country during the specific period granted and extended to May 18th for three months. Ten-year golden visas will be granted to 212 expat doctors at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), it was announced on Wednesday. The Government of Dubai Media Office said it is an expression of gratitude to Dubai’s first line of defence against Covid-19.
In another initiative, the UAE has also announced free Covid-19 testing for Emiratis and some expats.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has directed the authorities to make Covid-19 testing free for all Emiratis and their domestic workers. He also told authorities to make the testing free for some expatriates – people of determination, pregnant women, those aged above 50 and anyone who has come in direct contact with infected individuals.
