Municipal workers disinfect the streets of Dubai as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. Picture used for illustrative purposes only. Image Credit: AFP

Abu Dhabi: The UAE on Monday announced 490 new COVID-19 cases, raising the number of patients in the country to 10,839.

Six more deaths from coronavirus have also been confirmed, bringing the country’s death toll to 82, Dr. Amna Al Shamsi, a spokesperson for UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention, said during the media briefing.

The ministry also announced the full recovery of 112 new cases after receiving the necessary treatment, taking the total number of patients recovered from the virus in the UAE to 2,090.

The ministry expressed sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to all patients, calling on the public to cooperate with health authorities and comply with all precautionary measures, particularly social distancing protocols, to ensure the safety and protection of the public.

The new coronavirus patients, all of whom are in a stable condition and receiving the necessary care, were identified after conducting 29,984 COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past few days, the ministry said.

Dr Amna Al Shamsi gave an update on COVID-19 developments and measures taken to mitigate its impact, during the media briefing.

Regulating employer-employee relation

“The UAE is among the first countries that have implemented a slew of measures regulating the employer-employee relationship to safeguard the rights of both parties in light of the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic,” Dr Amna Al Shamsi said.

Ticket for workers

The UAE obliges business owners to pay the end-of-service gratuity and a ticket for workers to return to their home countries, when they end their employment contracts, Dr Al Shamsi said.

Free COVID-19 treatment for workers

The UAE also bears the cost of treatment for workers tested positive for COVID-19, in line with its keenness to protect the health of workers. The UAE also obliges businesses and employers to provide health insurance for their workers, Dr Al Shamsi said.

Relevant government entities regularly inspect labour accommodations to ensure they abide by precautionary measures and occupational health and safety rules, including provision of sanitizers and hygiene kits , and regularly disinfect facilities and buses workers use.