DUBAI 12 March 2020: As part of the UAE’s efforts to combat the spread of the new coronavirus, Covid-19, and the preventive measures undertaken by various Dubai Government entities, Dubai Municipality oversaw the implementation of sterilisation procedures in 80 private schools in Dubai.
The sterilisation was carried out by specialised companies according to the directives of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and the guidelines of the World Health Organisation.
A comprehensive sterilisation programme is being implemented in 208 private schools in Dubai to ensure the health and safety of 300,000 students as well as staff, according to Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, Head of Dubai municipality’s Public Health and Safety Department, said Wam
Dr. Rafee further said school buses will also be sterilised as part of the programme. The municipality is currently coordinating with the Roads and Transport Authority and private schools to commence the sterilisation of buses.
The sterilisation process in each school will take between 6 and 48 hours depending on the size of the institution. The sterilisation team will not leave the school premises until comprehensive disinfection procedures have been carried out in accordance with Dubai Municipality requirements, she stressed.
AC Units
The sterilisation procedure seeks to remove debris, organic matter and other material that pose contamination risks and ensure protection from harmful bacteria and viruses. As part of the procedure, cleaning teams spray an anti-microbial protectant on surfaces that provides additional protection for 30 days. The sterilisation also includes controlled fumigation to disinfect AC units.
Dr. Rafee underscored the importance of effective coordination between school management and staff to maintain high levels of hygiene and cleanliness after resumption of classes. Dubai Municipality has issued directives to schools to ensure daily cleaning procedures will be carried out using approved high-quality products to ensure the highest level of decontamination.
Meanwhile, private schools in Dubai have expressed their strong commitment to work closely with all entities to ensure the health and safety of their staff and students as they gear up to start distance learning classes for students from 22nd March as per the directives of the Ministry of Education.
On 7th March, the UAE Ministry of Education announced a comprehensive sterilisation plan for schools and universities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Prevention. As part of the plan, 620 schools and 6,000 school buses have already been sterilised.
256 buses are sterilised daily: SRTA
SHARJAH: Some 256 buses are sterilised on a daily basis to ensure the protection of the people using public transport, according to the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA).
The emirate’s public transport regulator launched an additional programme for the cleanliness and sterilisation of public transport, as a preventive measure to ensure the safety and health of members of the society, in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in a number of countries across the world.
In an statement to “Sharjah 24”, Youssef Suleiman Al Hammadi, Director of Procurement Department at SRTA, stated that the authority is continuing to sterilise and clean all means of transportation, and has intensified sterilisation procedures as a precautionary manner.
He added that there are 116 buses between cities that are sterilised daily before and after trips by specialised companies.
Al Hammadi confirmed that 140 public transport buses are also sterilised in the same manner daily to ensure the safety and health of passengers, in coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The SRTA has directed the franchise companies to sterilise the taxis continuously, in order to preserve the safety of employees and passengers, he added.
Return of Emiratis from Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The UAE Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that it is coordinating with the Kingdom to arrange for the return of Emirati citizens.
The embassy noted that it coordinated with UAE national carriers Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways and Saudi national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines to operate flights for the next 72 hours according to the announced schedule. It commended in this regard the notable cooperation shown by officials of the national carriers in question.
The UAE Embassy also expressed its appreciation to Saudi authorities for their support in facilitating these measures in light of precautions undertaken by the Kingdom to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Covid-19.
KSA announces recovery of first coronavirus-infected case
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the first recovery among the infected with the novel Coronavirus in the kingdom.
The case was of a citizen under the medical isolation, in Qatif Central Hospital, the Eastern Region, whose all medical examinations and procedures related to his case have been completed and he has recovered, according to the ministry’s statement, published by Saudi Press Agency.
Furthermore, a laboratory examination has proven that the citizen is free of the virus, indicating that he is currently in good health, the statement added.
Etihad announces move to Beijing’s Daxing Airport
ABU DHABI: Effective 1st June, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will transfer all its flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Beijing, and its flights to and from Beijing to Nagoya, Japan, to the new state-of-the-art Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).
Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said, “In October last year, Abu Dhabi Airports inked a sister-airport partnership with Beijing Daxing International Airport, which will strengthen the capital-to-capital link. Today, we are proud to announce that Etihad Airways will be one of the first airlines in the region to move to Beijing’s iconic Daxing International Airport.
“Since launching flights between Beijing and Abu Dhabi 12 years ago, we have experienced huge growth in China’s tourism and aviation markets, and enjoyed strong demand from business and leisure travellers, and cargo, assisted by direct services, codeshare partners, the mutual visa-exemption policy between the two nations implemented in January 2018, and the great joint efforts put into promoting bi-directional routes. The move also further reinforces our commitment to the China market and our Chinese guests, and contributes to the promising bilateral relationship.
“Whilst the spread of Covid-19 has posed a major challenge for all airlines serving China, with a massive drop in demand on key routes, we remain optimistic that the situation will improve by the summer and we continue serving Beijing from Abu Dhabi presently, demonstrating our unwavering support and commitment to our Chinese partners and the China market as a whole,” Kamark added.
MoFAIC updates foreign diplomatic community
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation held an electronic video briefing yesterday for foreign ambassadors and consuls on the health preparations and precautionary measures taken by the UAE, in light of the emerging coronavirus, Covid-19, crisis currently facing the world.
The briefing was broadcasted live from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
During the sessions, the ambassadors and heads of missions and consuls were briefed about the Emirati model of tackling the emergency, one based on transparency and credibility.
The speakers of both sessions reviewed the country’s internal response plan and system of cooperation between relevant federal and local authorities, including in the health sector. The speakers also discussed all relevant health and awareness measures, the travel sector and the precautionary and preventive measures adopted at all entry points in the UAE.
During the briefing, questions and inquiries submitted by ambassadors and consuls were answered.
SSC holds meeting to raise awareness over coronavirus
SHARJAH: The Sharjah Sport Council held a meeting with a number of specialised entities to discuss raising awareness over the coronavirus outbreak and how to prevent it from spreading in Sharjah’s clubs.
The meeting was held with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Health Education and Preventive Medicine Departments and Emirates Transport, in the presence of a number of dignitaries.
The participants discussed organising awareness workshops supervised by medical cadres for workers and bus drivers, and creating another way to raise awareness through distance communication. Steps to prevent it from spreading and coordination measures with entities concerned in case of an emergency were also discussed.
Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Secretary-General of SSC, emphasised that the council is keen to cooperate with specialised entities across various sectors to become an essential platform to spread health and sports education across its clubs.
The SSC has signed a document with the Sharjah Health Authority, which confirms its keenness to consider health as a priority, Al Hazami added.
