Coronavirus: 387 new Covid-19 cases in UAE as 22,000 are tested

Ministry of Health and Prevention says 92 people recovered from virus and two patients died

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The UAE on Sunday announced 387 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the country's total to 4,123.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said 92 people had recovered from the virus, making the total 680, while two Asian expatriates died.

Twenty-two deaths have been recorded since the UAE's first cases were announced in late January.

The UAE has carried out 22,000 tests to discover the new cases, who are "in a stable condition and receiving treatment".

"The Ministry expresses its sincere condolences to the families of two Asian expats who tested positive for Covid-19 and died due to complications," it said.

 

On Sunday, thousands of people were tested for Covid-19 in drive-through centres built across the UAE.

The 14 centres were built by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, or Seha, on the orders of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

There were constructed in 10 days and can test up to 600 people a day.

The UAE has begun using plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the health sector, said the country was leaving no stone unturned in identifying the best treatments and research studies to assist medical efforts.

That included looking into the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

On Sunday, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City revealed an Emirati, 29, was among the first recovered Covid-19 patients to donate plasma to a patient still battling the virus.

The plasma was given intravenously to an infected patient at the hospital and doctors are monitoring results.

"We are optimistic that it will be promising,” said Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, head of haematology and oncology at the hospital. "We expect the patient’s condition to improve soon."

The use of plasma to treat Covid-19 was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and has been adopted in hospitals worldwide.

This treatment relies on plasma containing antibodies that can rapidly detect and destroy the virus.

Such plasma can boost ailing patients' immune systems and potentially provide protection.

Doctors have found that between 40 and 50 per cent of patients who undergo plasma treatment show promising results.