On the first working Friday, a private hospital in Abu Dhabi made special arrangements for all its healthcare workers and patients to offer Jumuah prayers together.  More than 70 healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, and senior management members, joined the patients for the congregational prayers at Burjeel Medical City in Mohamed Bin Zayed City. The prayer held in the hospital’s atrium area was led by the imam from the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf). Special arrangements were made for room-bound patients to pray. More than 20 patients undergoing treatment joined for prayers. Patients undergoing long-term care at ‘Burjeel Darak’ came on a wheelchair with the support of staff and bystanders. The whole arrangement was made by ... Read More..

Clinics in Abu Dhabi and Dubai said waiting times for PCR results should ease in the coming days.  Currently results could take up to three days, more than 48 hours longer than normal.  The delay was because of increased demand fuelled by more travel, intensified testing requirements and a rising number of cases.  Demand remains high as employers ask people to get tested before returning to offices. On Wednesday, as the government reported 2,708 new cases,it said 469,028 were tested in just 24 hours.  Across Burjeel's network, customers would normally receive their results in less than a day, but the company assures them the increased wait is still less than two days.  “Earlier, we were able to release results even in 12 hours. However, with the current ... Read More..

Demand for PCR testing has trebled in some screening centres in recent days, following stricter workplace regulations and ahead of New Year celebrations.  A surge in testing has seen lengthy queues at test sites and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  Changes in requirements for access to Abu Dhabi and venues across the country and travel over the festive period are said to be partly behind increased demand.  And Abu Dhabi government employees are now required to take weekly PCR tests to screen for Covid-19, as cases surge globally due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.  On Thursday, 425,682 tests were recorded for the 24-hour reporting period – one of the highest figures to date. The number of new cases was 2,366, the highest since March 2021.  V ... Read More..

Long queues of cars outside drive-thru Covid-19 screening centres have become commonplace in recent days as UAE residents grapple with post-holiday virus blues.  Officials at private testing centres and hospitals have confirmed a surge in demand for testing following stricter workplace regulations and post-travel testing.  The majority of those testing are returning from their home countries, and the surge has trebled considerably since January 2, said VPS Healthcare. The turnaround time for test results in some laboratories has increased slightly. However, centres and hospitals work round-the-clock to provide the results within 24 hours.  Mayur Sabhani, the group director of laboratory services at VPS Healthcare, confirmed that the group's centralised Covid-19 testing la ... Read More..

The first babies born in the UAE in 2022 were welcomed exactly at the stroke of midnight.  At Burjeel Hospital, baby boy Mohammed Ashar was also born right at midnight to Indian couple Mohammed Abdul Almas Ansari and Asfiya Sultana. Thrilled parents, Ansari and Asfiya, said they are happy and grateful to the Almighty for blessing them with a baby on the first day of the year. “We were expecting the delivery to happen close to the New Year. Welcoming our little prince on this special day is a proud and happy moment. This is our third child, and the entire family has been waiting for this day. He brings new hope to our family,” said Ansari.  He thanked the medical and nursing staff for the care and service during the entire period.  Dr Pathukutty Mohammed, ... Read More..