Dubai has launched a mobile laboratory unit to test the new coronavirus for the elderly and vulnerable, while the emirate has relaxed existing containment measures, the official WAM agency said on Friday.
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Dubai had imposed in recent weeks the strictest containment in the United Arab Emirates, a federation of which it is one of the seven members and which has officially registered more than 9000 cases of infection and 59 deaths due to the Covid-19 disease. "Dubai's ambulance services have announced the launch of their mobile laboratory unit to provide free testing to the elderly and vulnerable at home," said WAM.
According to the UAE official agency, this unit, which uses "refurbished" and "equipped" ambulances , will help "reduce the pressure on hospitals" and "protect people at high risk". The Emirates announced on Thursday that it will ease travel restrictions, reopen shopping centers, and restaurants and cafes.
Dubai, which had imposed total containment, also authorized the return of public transport from Sunday. Small family gatherings are also allowed, Muslims starting the fasting month of Ramadan on Friday.