Author: News Desk

The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has announced that it would be a patron and provide care to the families of COVID-19 deceased from all nationalities. The gesture which is part of the country’s initiative “You are among your Families” includes several vital steps and enhances the philanthropic organisation’s programmes in the social services field. In this regard, Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General, emphasised that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the ERC is following the organisation’s initiatives related to bringing COVID-19 under control nationwide and always instructs the importance…

Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said the Kerala-based Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology has developed a low-cost diagnostic test kit that can confirm COVID-19 in two hours. The diagnostic test kit developed by the Thiruvananthapuram institute can detect coronavirus in 10 minutes, and the sample to result time will be less than two hours, Vardhan tweeted.  A total of 30 samples can be tested in a single batch on a single machine, he said. https://twitter.com/drharshvardhan/status/1251168623084756992?s=20 https://twitter.com/drharshvardhan/status/1251170111387348998?s=20

Four more cases of COVID-19 have been registered, bringing the number of new cases of the day to 44. 1 recovery has been reported in Bahrain. Bahrain tested a total of 79612 until now. There are 1011 active cases. These include 1008 stable cases and 3 critical cases. 726 people have been discharged. Only 7 deaths have been reported until now. This takes the total cases in Bahrain to 1744. The Ministry of Health announced the death of a 60-year-old Bahraini citizen on 14th April, who has underlying chronic diseases and health issues. The deceased got the necessary treatment and care…

Researchers have begun trials of drugs that could prevent vulnerable groups developing severe coronavirus symptoms. The Oxford University team plans to test pre-existing drugs on patients once they show the first signs of the disease. They will look to see if any can reduce the need for hospitalisation or speed up recovery. The project is one of a tranche announced by the government. In the first phase of the Oxford trial, GPs will test the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to see if it is effective. Another drug being considered is the antibiotic, azithromycin. Other promising drugs will be put to an expert advisory…

The mobile testing units, in cooperation with the community police, conducted a field visit to the Waqif market, as part of the random checks. The Health Ministry will continue randomly selecting citizens and residents to test for the coronavirus, as part of a national response to its global spread. The Information and eGovernment Authority will select 20 individuals from each housing block on a daily basis, over a duration of 12 days. https://twitter.com/MOH_Bahrain/status/1251169882521178114?s=20

Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that the round-the-clock sterilisation programme in the emirate will be extended for an additional week. The extension follows the positive impact of the two-week sterilisation operations and intensified restrictions on movement aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19. The Committee’s decision to extend the 24-hour sterilisation programme, which first came into effect on April 4, 2020, is part of its efforts to heighten precautionary measures against COVID-19. The success of task forces’ efforts to ensure high levels of…

Muslims can offer Taraweeh prayers at home during the holy month of Ramadan, like the five daily obligatory prayers, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) of the Dubai Government announced on Friday. The department, in a statement, said that prayers should be done at homes as mosques are closed as part of the county’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Taraweeh prayers – the teaching of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during Ramadan – can be performed at homes and the heavenly rewards will remain the same as while praying at mosques, clarified the IACAD. Muslims who pray…

KHK Heroes call on the nation for a united cause, helping those most vulnerable during the Coronavirus Pandemic but were not expecting the call to be answered beyond international waters. KHK Heroes is calling on Bahrain to make donations, volunteer time to KHK Heroes or take up the challenge to post a video online and nominate someone to pay it forward. His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa directs KHK Heroes Board of Directors to initiate campaigns to support the vision HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Premier and…

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the highest religious authority in the country, said that Muslim prayers during Ramadan and for the subsequent Eid al-Fitr feast should be performed at home if the coronavirus outbreak continues, Saudi’s Okaz newspaper reported on Friday. “Ramadan’s Taraweeh (evening) prayer can be performed at home if it cannot be performed at mosques due to the preventive measures taken to fight the spread of coronavirus,” he said in response to a question, adding that the same applies for Eid prayers, according to the paper. The holy fasting month of Ramadan begins next week.…

Norman Hunter, the former Leeds United footballer who was part of the winning England 1966 World Cup squad, has died at the age of 76 from the coronavirus. Leeds United confirmed his death in a statement on Friday and said the club was “devastated” by the news. “Norman was taken to hospital last week after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and despite continuing to battle and the best efforts of NHS (National Health Service) staff, he sadly lost his fight earlier this morning,” said the club. A seminal figure in English football history, Hunter earned the nickname “Bites Yer Legs” on account of his reputation as…