The UAE has recorded its highest number of COVID recoveries ever in a 24 hour period, since the Coronavirus pandemic began

The UAE’s response to Covid-19 has been exemplary, and it has the numbers to prove this. The gulf nation has one of the lowest rate of fatalities from the novel Coronavirus in the world, at 0.3%⁽¹⁾. Less than a thousand people have died in the UAE, from the dreaded disease, since the pandemic began⁽²⁾.

Taking effective measures at the right time

Much of the credit, for these exceptionally low numbers when compared to global averages, must go to the disciplined, well-organized and timely response initiated by the UAE government, as soon as the threat became apparent. Rolling out a testing regime that conducted one of the highest number of tests globally, per-capita, among its residents, the UAE was able to get a grip on the exact scenario it was facing.

The UAE’s healthcare bodies and authorities swung into action, implementing extensive preventative measures, and creating a framework of behaviours and best practices. The sum total of all these initiatives was that the UAE managed to curtail the spread of the virus, and protected its residents from this silent enemy. Not only did the UAE rise to the challenge and protect its own, the nation took a hands-on approach to helping weaker nations around the world. In particular, the UAE’s timely aid to several African nations was singled out for praise by the United Nations⁽³⁾.

The UAE sets the record for recoveries in a single day

This outstanding effort in addressing the novel Coronavirus crisis was recently captured perfectly, by a figure that exemplified the UAE’s response to the crisis. On the 20^th of January 2021, the UAE recorded the recovery of 3,746 COVID-19 infected patients⁽⁴⁾ within its borders, representing the highest number achieved by the nation in a single day, since the crisis began. The previous highest figure had been achieved just a few weeks prior, on January the 7^th, clearly capturing the consistent excellence of the response to the pandemic, from the UAE’s healthcare professionals. The UAE’s overall recovery rate has also been exceptionally high, at nearly 90%, compared to a global recovery rate of 71.77%.

Of all the outstanding statistics I have shared, it is these high recovery rates that moved me the most. The reason for this is that behind these numbers are the untiring efforts of countless doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. The COVID-19 crisis made us all acutely aware of many unsung heroes in our society. Everyone who took on the risk of infection for the greater cause of helping others, during the pandemic, deserves our highest regard. But I am especially grateful to our healthcare professionals. It’s no ordinary thing to put oneself in a position that carries the greatest possible risk to one’s life, as these incredible individuals did, to ensure the safety of the rest of us. It’s often said that adversity reveals a person’s character, and the UAE’s healthcare professionals could not have given a better account of themselves. I salute their commitment, sense of duty, and heroism. But most of all, I salute their humanity.