The COVID-19 fight by UAE

The highly pandemic nature of COVID-19 has nations scrambling to protect their people. The best way to tackle the virus is rounding up positive patients and putting them into quarantine, while simultaneously putting non infected people into self-isolation, preventing further spread of the disease. For this, the Government of UAE has taken up the strict and ideal methods to fight it. UAE has been doing early testing of all suspected individuals. There’s a huge city-wide sterilization drive underway since two weeks and is continuing as of now. The Government has also opened different drive-thru testing centers. This is an effective method of testing positive patients as it allows testing without forming close contacts. This testing method has proven to be exceedingly effective and has resulted in the help of hundreds of people within the UAE. Apart from that, the government has also put up heroic efforts in putting up health safety throughout the country.

How is the UAE Government dealing with COVID-19?

The UAE government is at the peak of testing specifically as this drive thru method stands to be exceedingly effective. So far an approximate number of over 500,000 tests have been carried out, which is among the world’s highest. 

For drive through testing the UAE Government has set up various makeshift test and sterilization centers. There is a drive-thru driveway for people to arrive and park their car in front of awaiting healthcare staff. This staff is properly equipped with the best COVID-19 testing kits and have complete protective gear covering them to avoid risks of infection. 

Nasal swabs and other tests are carried out while the person remains sitting in the car and with that, the healthcare workers are able to keep a precautionary 6 feet distance. These drive-thru centers require registration for an appointment before a test. 

During this worldwide pandemic, UAE stands to be the leading country in providing the best medical care. The medical staff here is properly trained and well equipped in dealing with COVID-19 tests along with treating positive tested patients. 

Along with the medical staff, the Civil Defense is taking vital steps to ensure safety against COVID-19 within the country. All Civil Defense departments have been essential in the nationwide sterilization drive. 

The department has utilized a number of firefighting drones, robots and trucks in sterilization drives. Most fire fighting equipment handled by the Civil Defense is well suited for spraying disinfectants around the city.  All partaking members are on the streets from 8PM to 6AM to ensure that every bit of the city is cleaned well. Drones and trucks are also used for “stay at home” messages. 

All the efforts combined by the healthcare department, the government of UAE and the fire fighting department has made UAE the most efficient country fighting the COVID-19 war. 

COVID-19 tests in UAE

The COVID-19 presents flu-like symptoms consisting of a cough, fever, tiredness, and in rare cases, difficulty in breathing. This makes the virus hard to identify. In fact, people may, at times, may feel sick for 1 to 14 days before they could even recognize COVID-19 symptoms. 

With a virus so deadly and highly pandemic, testing large groups of people is crucial. This is because once the government recognizes all the positive tested patients, they can effectively put them into isolation while preventing the virus from spreading rapidly. 

However, this is a hard task to manage, primarily as the disease could infect just about everyone and anyone. Moreover, as the virus is capable of spreading without showing obvious symptoms, gathering and isolating positive patients and putting the rest in quarantine is a hard task 

This ultimately calls for large scale testing of the virus. As patients continue to increase, making hospitals a hotbed for contamination, having to drive through tests seem to be the ultimate solution. 

The UAE government also took this initiative to provide drive-through COVID-19 testing for its people. This allowed people to have a test without putting their lives, the lives of healthcare staff, and other people in potential danger. 

These drive-through test facilities further proved to be a chance of increasing the testing and process. With all the testing done, the government could effectively restrain infected patients in isolation while protecting uninfected people through quarantine. 

Additionally, the process is also time-saving, taking about three to five minutes from registration to testing. It also eliminated direct exposure preventing the spread of the virus. These facilities are well equipped and provide test results within three to four working days. 

While the test results don’t appear, people are requested to stay in isolation and avoid any kind of social interaction whatsoever. Any patient that received a positive result is immediately transferred to the hospitals for further treatment. 

Apart from that, to avoid people coming to the facilities and creating a rush over the place, people are facilitated to receive results over SMS or the SEHA app. This makes the process all the more effective and efficient in fighting against the highly contagious virus.

Criteria for testing 

To ensure the most deserving and emergency patients get facilitated first, healthcare workers have a specific criterion that has to be met for those who want to get tested that is:

1. The person has to come in contact with a COVID-19 positive tested patient

2. There has to be a recent travel history to places where the pandemic has spread

3. A person may have to be afflicted with a history of chronic illnesses

4. Women who are pregnant and show respiratory symptoms. 

As per the generosity of the government of UAE, and to aid people in the best possible way in such grave times, anyone who meets the criteria can have the test for free. However, for those who are paranoid that they might have acquired the virus can get it checked for Dh375 after registering.

Protective measures  

As a means of protecting yourself, people are strictly instructed to isolate themselves. Apart from that, as the virus can be transmitted through unclean hands or surfaces, it is best to keep hands and houses clean. 

Additionally, to protect the airborne transmission, people are instructed to keep a six feet distance from everyone at all times while sneezing or coughing in a disposable napkin.   With that, there are strict instructions for using an alcohol hand sanitizer. As this virus can be transmitted from a dirty surface, there are specific instructions to sterilize every tabletop, doorknobs, and surfaces through alcohol surface cleaners.  

Moreover, within homes, people are instructed to use disinfecting air sprays. However, with such high usage of alcohol and flammable products, there comes a whole set of fire risks and hazards. 

Fire risks with COVID-19

With everyone at an edge during the COVID-19 quarantine periods, there is always a possibility of fire incidents. Specifically, as flammable products surround us. These sterilizers and sanitizers are really good at killing germs. 

They contain alcohol, which is a robust disinfectant and can effectively get rid of various germs and viruses. However, along with that, alcohol also happens to be highly flammable.it is therefore crucial to practice caution and try our best to remain safe and secure. 

SOS, therefore, requests people to stay safe and practice caution to remain protected from fires and the COVID-19 virus. 

Fire safety precaution during  lockdown

As safety and security from viruses, fires, and anything that could cause potential harm is crucial, SOS brings you precautionary methods. Practicing these would allow you to remain safe and protected during these tough times:

1. Do not go near the stovetop after cleaning your hands with a hand sanitizer. It contains alcohol and is highly flammable and, therefore, can burn your hands. It is better to wash your hands before going near the stove.

2. Better clean kitchen tabletops and surfaces with a wet cloth after cleaning with a disinfectant. This could help clean up the flammable alcohol. Also, avoid lighting up the stove or match immediately after cleaning up 

3. Do not leave sanitizers or perfumes in your vehicles. Most sterilizers contain flammable alcoholic materials, exposure directly to the sun and a high temperature inside the vehicles leads to their explosion.

4. Most smokers might be smoking inside during the pandemic. Please note, smoking is harmful & injurious to health. It is better not to carelessly leave a cigarette lying around near books, bedding, or anything that can easily catch fire. It is also crucial to avoid smoking in bed. 

5. Most employees will be working from home, it is essential to note that your electrical outlets are not overloaded. To avoid electrical fires, it is better to switch off electrical products while you’re not using them. 

6. Always make sure your fire alarm system is working, and you have an active fire extinguisher in case of any emergency. 

Safety and security, whether it is from the virus or fires, is crucial. Our Lives are essential, and it is upon us to save ourselves. Therefore, keep in mind to stay home and stay safe!