COVID-19 infections, deaths rose after last three holidays in UAE: Official

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE has seen a considerable rise in the cases of COVID-19 infections and deaths during the last three holidays.

The last three holidays include this year's Eid Al Fitr, the New Year's holidays, and last year’s Eid Al Adha.

Farida Al Hosani, the official spokesman for the UAE health sector, said that after Eid Al Adha holidays last year the average daily infections rose by more than 500% to reach 1,400 daily cases.

She further said that after Eid Al Fitr holidays this year the number of infections increased by almost 60% to reach 2,000 daily cases.

“Furthermore if we compare these numbers with deaths, the average deaths from COVID-19 after the New Year holidays reached upto 16 deaths which was equivalent to an increase of 300%, but after Eid Al Fitr for this year, the average death rate due to the virus was 6 cases, equivalent to an increase of 100%,” Al Hosani said.

Al Hosani said that these statistics are being revealed today to confirm that the responsibility of curbing the spread of virus lies equally between government and the citizens.

She called upon everyone to celebrate Eid Al Adha this year safely and enjoy all the activities taking into account all the safety procedures for the occasion.

“We must  ensure our safety and the safety of everyone around us, before visiting our relatives, especially the elderly we must conduct COVID-19 test,” she said.

She also confirmed during the media briefing that the UAE is the first in the world according to the Bloomberg index of resilience in terms of the percentage of people who received the vaccine, noting that this comes as a culmination of the efforts of the health sector and all concerned authorities.