Dwindling cases, rising recoveries
The commitment of community members remains crucial to avoiding any future setbacks that could undermine previous efforts, and helping regain the emirate’s economic momentum.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
Paramedics cheer as final COVID-19 patients are discharged from the Dubai Parks and Resorts Field Hospital, a1,200-bed facility managed by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), on July 13, 2020.
Talk of an imminent flattening curve began in the UAE when the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre in Dubai announced on June 16 that the precautionary measures implemented were bearing fruit. The centre, tasked with managing the emirate’s response to the pandemic, said the progress was borne out by the rise in the recovery rate, and the decline in the number of identified cases and people with COVID-19 symptoms visiting hospitals over the previous few weeks.
It said there were a number of hospitals in Dubai that did not have any COVID-19 cases, with most government and private hospitals resuming their diagnostic and treatment services. Their capacity was not under pressure too due to COVID-19 cases.Dr Amer Ahmad Sharif, the head of the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, said an analysis of indicators over the previous three months showed a significant decline in cases. The rate of infections in the previous three weeks had fallen considerably while the rate of recoveries had increased. The number of cases requiring hospitalisation had also seen a decline.
Their (people’s) commitment remains crucial to avoiding any future setbacks that could undermine the efforts of the last few months as well as regaining the emirate’s economic momentum and enabling all sectors to resume normal activities."
Dr Amer Ahmad Sharif | Head of the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre
He said the easing of movement restrictions in the emirate and the reopening of economic activities were smoothly implemented, thanks to the community’s cooperation.
But he warned at the time, “Their commitment remains crucial to avoiding any future setbacks that could undermine the efforts of the last few months as well as regaining the emirate’s economic momentum and enabling all sectors to resume normal activities.”