DUBAI: The UAE on Monday recorded 3,471 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily count since the start of the pandemic, and six deaths.
Officials from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said the total number of cases since the pandemic began had reached 256,732, while the death toll rose to 751.
Some 2,990 people had recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. The total number of recoveries is 228,364.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources issued a circular to all ministries and federal entities amending the procedures for dealing with the pandemic to be implemented from Sunday. All government employees, as well as outsourced or public service companies, are required to take a PCR test every seven days, if they have not received two doses of the vaccine.
As part of its national campaign to inoculate 50 percent of the population by April, the UAE said it has vaccinated 1.972 million people, with almost 90,000 in the last 24 hours.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said it is organizing a series of virtual seminars aimed at raising awareness on the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for the priority groups.
.@DHA_Dubai holds Covid-19 vaccination awareness webinars: “The vaccine is currently the best, safest and most effective method to control the pandemic"https://t.co/IPXwqrmWEC pic.twitter.com/MLTxf67amc
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 18, 2021
Dr. Hind Al-Awadi, head of DHA’s Health Promotion and Education Department, said the campaign targets employees of government departments and institutions in Dubai to explain the importance of the vaccine, the procedure, its symptoms and its role in strengthening the body’s immunity, especially for those suffering from chronic diseases.
Dubai Municipality announced it had intensified its inspection campaigns and said it closed down 18 businesses and issued 18 fines and 45 warnings to others for failing to adhere to anti-COVID-19 measures.
The Department of Social Services in Sharjah said it received more than 300 requests to provide home vaccinations for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and their families since the initiative began on Saturday.
“Starting from the beginning of this week, 12 mobile units started visiting the homes of senior citizens and providing vaccinations for COVID-19, the department’s director Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Mayel, said.
He added that they are working “to increase the number of mobile units in the coming weeks to ensure that the largest number of people are vaccinated.”
Ajman Medical District launched a new center to administer the vaccine, with a large turnout on the first day of opening.
Hamad Tarim Al-Shamsi, the district’s director, said: “Our health plans are based on making medical services accessible to all members of society and we are currently focusing on providing services, examinations and vaccines to the most needy groups, especially senior citizens and people with disabilities, and medical teams have been formed to communicate with them in their homes.”
Elsewhere, Kuwait reported 467 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 158,244. The death toll rose to 948 after one coronavirus-related death was reported in the previous 24 hours.
تعلن #وزارة_الصحة عن تأكيد إصابة 467 حالة، وتسجيل 354 حالة شفاء، و حالة وفاة واحدة جديدة بـ #فيروس_كورونا_المستجدّ COVID-19 ، ليصبح إجمالي عدد الحالات 158,244 حالة pic.twitter.com/xphql7Hq2Y
— وزارة الصحة - الكويت (@KUWAIT_MOH) January 18, 2021
Oman’s health ministry confirmed 221 new cases and two deaths, bringing the totals to 132,011 and 1,514, respectively.
#Statement No. 269
January 18, 2021 pic.twitter.com/9TGNzmL0kf— وزارة الصحة - عُمان (@OmaniMOH) January 18, 2021
In Bahrain, no deaths were reported, keeping the death toll to 360, while 333 new infected cases were confirmed.
Out of 10803 COVID-19 tests carried out on 18 January 2021, 333 new cases have been detected among 151 expatriate workers, 178 new cases are contacts of active cases, and 4 are travel related. There were 349 recoveries from #COVID19, increasing total recoveries to 94646 pic.twitter.com/ETbtZ2zVwl
— وزارة الصحة | مملكة البحرين (@MOH_Bahrain) January 18, 2021
