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Abu Dhabi / WAM
Dr Omar Abdulrahman Al Hammadi, Official Spokesman of the UAE Government said that this week, 803,579 tests were conducted around the country, a three percent increase compared to the previous week, adding that the data showed a 15 percent decrease in confirmed cases, amounting to 8,525.
Dr Al Hammadi explained the data and statistics collected by relevant authorities regarding the health situation from October 28 to November 3.
This came during the regular media briefing held by the UAE Government to highlight the national health situation, as well as the efforts of relevant authorities and entities to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) and provide the best levels of care in health establishments.
Positive cases also accounted for one per cent of total cases, meaning that the UAE’s rate is lower than the European Union (EU) rate of 9.1 percent, the Middle East and North Africa rate of 6.6 percent, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rate of 6.9 percent, he said.
Al Hammadi also noted that the number of recoveries witnessed a decrease this week by nine percent, totalling 11,032 while there were 21 deaths, with the death rate staying stable at 0.4 percent, which is among the lowest globally compared to 2.6 percent in the EU, 2.4 percent in the Middle East and North Africa, and 3.0 percent in the OECD.
The spokesman also responded to questions aimed to clarify facts to the public, and he spoke about the possibility of contracting Covid-19 after recovering from it, stressing that people acquire immunity from viral diseases through two ways, either through contracting the virus and becoming immune by producing antibodies or by taking a vaccine.
He also pointed out that a vaccine is much safer and is the goal of current local and international research, affirming that contracting the virus after recovering from it or after taking the vaccine is theoretically possible, as the body develops antibodies at levels of validity that differ from one disease to another.
The coronavirus does not live longer than 11 months, and it is hard to work out an estimated figure for re-infections, Al Hammadi said.
, noting that time and clinical monitoring may reveal the period of immunity acquired after recovery or after being vaccinated.
Al Hammadi answered a question on whether anyone with symptoms should stay at home and take medicine to produce immunity, explaining that they should visit a doctor first for diagnosis and assessment, as it is not easy to differentiate between the regular flu and COVID-19 without undergoing laboratory tests.
He further said that several other factors must be considered, including the age of the patient and if they are suffering from any chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiac diseases, cancer and kidney disease. An appropriate decision will be taken, as mild cases of infection may be quarantined in relevant facilities without the need to be admitted to hospital, he added.
Al Hammadi recommended that moderate and severe cases should be admitted to hospital for monitoring and treatment, and upon the occurrence of serious symptoms, patients should be taken to intensive care and ventilators if necessary.
Doctors in charge must decide if a patient has the disease or not, and the best healthcare methods, he further added while warning the public to not trust false information and unlicensed treatments without consulting official health centres.