The coronavirus outbreak in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) resulted in the government doing everything in its potential to contain the rapid increase in cases. Taking fast action to combat the spread of the pandemic in various Gulf emirates including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah among others, the country has increased its Covid-19 testing drastically. On Sunday, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 1,096 cases, along with 1,311 recoveries and two fatalities. Nearly 134,000 new Covid-19 tests were carried out, the ministry added, taking the total number of tests to around 11 million so far. However, the UAE has now gained world recognition for being the only country where the number of Covid-19 tests conducted has exceeded its population.
Coronavirus tests as percentage of population.
UAE: 109%
Denmark: 74%
Singapore: 52%
UK: 39%
US: 35%
Russia: 35%
Australia: 31%
Spain: 29%
Germany: 21%
Italy: 20%
Saudi: 20%
France: 18%
Turkey: 13%
China: 11%
Brazil: 8.5%
India: 6.2%
Japan: 1.8%
Pakistan: 1.7%
Mexico: 1.6%— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 11, 2020
Comparisons were drawn with countries boasting of a population of more than one million. The same was shared on The Spectator Index’s official Twitter handle. Currently, UAE’s Covid-19 testing as percentage of the population stands at 109%, followed by Denmark (74%), Singapore (52%), the United Kingdom (39%) and United States (35%). Medical teams have also been visiting various areas of Abu Dhabi in a renewed and expanded testing campaign to identify potential Covid-19 cases. Frontline workers including doctors and nurses have been conducting tests in densely populated areas of the emirate, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office posted on Twitter.
The UAE has taken several other steps to spread awareness amongst the general public about Covid-19 precautions including wearing masks, washing hands regularly and practicing social distancing. For this reason, the country also set up the Weqaya platform in April this year, a website specifically designed to raise public health awareness on the pandemic. The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) announced that the platform, http://www.weqaya.ae, is an accessible, easy to use website that is available to all. It also provides the latest news and official announcements on the pandemic, as well as video content on healthy practices and preventative measures. Users will also have the opportunity to communicate with medical and health experts by sending in queries via the website. On a whole, the country has worked tirelessly, productively and efficiently to mitigate one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.
