The keys to success for the Emirates, one of the countries with the fewest coronavirus deaths

The coronavirus pandemic has plunged virtually the entire world into an unprecedented crisis in which, according to official data, more than one million people have already been infected internationally and more than 67,000 have died. Governments around the world have already implemented different health strategies to stop and eradicate the virus, as well as granting economic aid to try to ensure that economic systems suffer as little as possible. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the countries with the lowest incidence of the coronavirus and the lowest number of deaths. Why is this?  

Although the coronavirus originated in Wuhan, a city in China, it has spread in a matter of weeks around the globe, leaving a trail of infection and death in its wake. Most governments have implemented measures such as forced confinement of the population, restriction of movement, closure of industry except for the most essential sectors...The Emirates has also implemented extraordinary measures which, according to the data, have been effective.

While in Spain, Italy and other European countries as well as in the United States, airlines continue to fly (albeit at a much lower frequency), in the Emirates all flights were cancelled for a period of 15 days as a form of prevention against the spread of the coronavirus. 

As in other countries, face-to-face classes are temporarily suspended, but the country's schools and universities are continuing their e-learning programme. In fact, the UAE Ministry of Education has recently announced that this model of distance learning will continue until at least the end of June. Therefore, unlike in Italy, for example, where they have decided to end the academic year with a general pass, in the UAE courses will continue online and examinations will be held exclusively in the centres. Furthermore, in the field of education, the Dubai Cares organization has partnered with UNESCO to promote online learning around the world and make tools and resources available for this purpose.  

Another key monitoring measure that has been in place in the country since March 29 is the daily monitoring of workers living in shared work accommodations. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization in Abu Dhabi launched the regulation several days ago in which all workers living in workplaces must be examined twice a day, first when they leave and then when they return from work. 

During these daily checks, temperature and other common symptoms of covid19 are monitored at checkpoints that have been set up at the entrance to these residential centres. This measure is intended to strengthen prevention and early detection of cases and thereby prevent its spread among workers.

The UAE government has also introduced confinement and even a curfew, at which time no one may leave their homes except for workers in essential or emergency health care. People have to stay at home except to go to hospital or to buy food or basic necessities, which can only be done by a family member; no one can leave accompanied. Fines for those who do not comply with the new rules are between 2,000 and 3,000 dirhams (700-800 euros). Police officers throughout the country have been given the power both to warn of infringements and to collect fines on the spot. 

Disinfection of areas and surfaces has proved to be of great help in curbing the spread of the virus, and the Supreme Committee of Dubai, set up exclusively for the coronavirus crisis, has called for the disinfection of residential areas on a 24-hour basis. As stated by the WAM news agency, from April 4 and for two weeks, the daily disinfection of all communities in the emirate will be carried out. In addition, massive testing has also been approved in the highest density areas of the country to ensure that members of various residential areas are free of coronavirus and therefore anticipate any positive cases. The data change every day, as do the measures that each country has to implement; but for the moment, the measures imposed in the UAE appear to be effective given the low number of people infected and victims compared to other countries.