The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

It is a matter of pride for every citizen and resident that the UAE has been ranked the safest Arab country and the 11th globally for safety, security, and health, economic and social stability as per a prestigious study.

The exhaustive study conducted by the Deep Knowledge Group, a consortium of companies and nonprofits owned by Deep Knowledge Ventures, an investment firm founded in 2014 in Hong Kong, is based on 130 quantitative and qualitative parameters and over 11,400 data points in categories like quarantine efficiency, monitoring and detection, health readiness, and government efficiency.

It is also heartening to note that the UAE ranked ahead of world-class countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, Denmark, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

Right from the beginning, the UAE has not taken any chances and implemented various effective and coordinated measures to counter the pandemic.

The fact that the health entities of the UAE government have conducted more than 2.5 million tests for COVID-19 in the country, the highest worldwide, is enough indication of how meticulously and intensely the measures are being implemented.

As pointed out by Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, the official spokesperson for the UAE Government, the government continues its efforts to protect all citizens and residents, and has adopted a series of decisions to alleviate the repercussions of this crisis on various pivotal sectors.

This was unambiguously reflected by the solidarity of the national efforts from day one at all levels to contain them, and the proactive approach to fighting the pandemic as well as expanding the scope of testing nationwide.

The public, on their part, should never forget the importance of adhering to preventive measures. People should maintain calm and patience and refrain from circulating rumours.

Dr. Al Shamsi rightly mentioned about about fake information and rumours and their role in unjustifiably triggering fear and panic among the public, in addition to chaos, which threatens the safety and stability of society.

All segments of the society should receive news only from official sources and government agencies, as they are the sole sources to follow the latest developments, and follow social media channels of official agencies and accredited media.

The UAE’s benevolence has no boundaries.

For example, the UAE has donated 6.6 tonnes of material to the United Kingdom that will enable the country to produce millions of items of personal protective equipment, PPE.

The shipment arrived at Heathrow Airport on a special chartered flight on Friday and was made up of 6.6 tonnes of melt blown fabric, an essential component of surgical face masks.

The UAE also recently dispatched an aid plane carrying eight metric tonnes of medical supplies to support Cuba in curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

As UAE Ambassador to Cuba Bader Abdulla Saeed Almatroshi pointed out, “The coronavirus pandemic has emphasised the importance of international cooperation. The UAE aid comes within the framework of cooperation between our two countries in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. It also demonstrates the UAE leadership’s solidarity with Cuba via its support of frontline workers working tirelessly to combat the virus.”

Dr Farida Al Hosani, the spokesperson for the state health sector, is absolutely right in stating that although restrictions have been eased in some sectors and activities, individuals remain responsible for themselves and of the people around them.

Continuing to be cautious and aware certainly remains a key factor in these exceptional times.