22 private COVID-19 test centres open

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

UAE residents have more opportunities to avail of paid COVID19 diagnostics as Thumbay Group, opened to the public its own 22 testing centers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates on Sunday.

The testing centers are being managed by the College of American Pathologists-supported Thumbay Labs, which, according to its director, Dr. Nasir Parwaiz operates in all eight group hospitals and all 14 group clinics in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“Everyone who will be found positive with COVID19 would be (provided with) services as per the directives of the (Dubai Health Authority) and the (Ministry of Health and Prevention-MoHaP),” replied Parwaiz when asked regarding referrals to government hospitals and if the group hospitals admit COVID19 patients.

“All (symptomatic and asymptomatic) persons are eligible and welcome for this test,” he added when inquired on whether management encourages parents and guardians to have their young children undergo the MoHaP-approved RT PCR Methodology.

RT PCR stands for the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction wherein from a two-minute swab procedure, the collected specimen is subjected to a laboratory dye treatment to determine the presence of the COVID19-causing SARS-CoV2.

Those interested may walk in for the tests or set appointments via the landline 046030555 and WhatsApp 0566806455.

The results would be emailed within two days.

Meanwhile, the UAE has conducted over 35,000 additional COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past few days in line with the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s (MoHaP) plans to intensify screening of the virus in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to a statement by MoHAP on Sunday, the accelerated investigative measures resulted in the detection of 536 new coronavirus cases among various nationalities, all of whom are receiving the necessary medical care. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 10,349 to date.