Abu Dhabi Receives First Shipment of Coronavirus Medication Sotrovimab

Gulf

June 17th, 5:09am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Nurses wearing protective equipment speak while testing patients, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Cleveland Clinic hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike

UAE's Abu Dhabi received its first shipment of the coronavirus Sotrovimab medication, becoming the first city globally to receive it, the media office said on a tweet on Wednesday. The Ministry of Health and Prevention approved the emergency use of Sotrovimab in May, saying it " offers the prospect of reducing hospitalization for more than 24 hours and fatalities by as much as 85% when administered to patients as an early treatment for COVID-19", the state news agency reported. In other news, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved a pilot test of new scanners to identify potential COVID-19 cases at select locations in the emirate as part of efforts to further enhance the protection of public health and safety by using the most advanced technology, state news agency WAM reported. The technology screens (without recording) from a distance, provides immediate results, and is effective for mass screening, such as at the entry to public locations. During the pilot phase, the scanners will be used at entry points to the emirate, the entrance to select public locations on Yas Island and at designated points to enter or exit the Musaffah area. If the scanner identifies a person as not infected, they are permitted to enter. If the scanner identifies a person as potentially infected, they must conduct a free PCR test within 24 hours.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3032036/abu-dhabi-receives-first-shipment-coronavirus-medication-sotrovimab