2 Italian team crew members test positive for virus
ABU DHABI, March 1, 2020
The two Italian team members of the UAE Tour who had tested positive for COVID-19 were among the technical crew, who typically do not mix with participants in the event, Dr Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said.
The minister made the statement at a joint news conference on the coronavirus in the UAE on Saturday. The conference was attended by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, also, said a Wam news agency report.
"A total 612 people who were in contact with the two Italian patients were examined, and the laboratory results for 450 showed they are free from the virus, while results for the remaining 162 people are expected soon," added Al Owais.
Meanwhile, two aircraft have been prepared in coordination with the Iranian authorities for the safe evacuation of the UAE nationals living in the Iranian Qeshm city and capital Tehran, added the minister.
"There are 21 novel coronavirus cases in the UAE, five of who have already recovered," the health minister added.
For his part, the minister of education said that nurseries in the UAE will be closed for two weeks effective March 1, as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi has dismissed as "untrue" news alleging that a coronavirus case has been discovered in a residential compound in Abu Dhabi.
"The Ministry of Health and Prevention is the official source of information on COVID-19 in the UAE," DoH – Abu Dhabi said in a statement, affirming that MoHaP is adhering to all transparency standards in revealing the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
DoH urged the public to rely only on official sources when dealing with all news related to the novel virus.
"The public are urged to follow the reports issued regularly by competent bodies who are doing their work with all transparency and sparing no effort to curb the spread of the virus outbreak."
