The country has adopted many local preventive procedures that enhanced health and food security of the entire community. It also conducted a number of precautionary procedures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, by establishing and adequately equipping hospitals and healthcare centres across the country.

He then pointed out that the UAE has presented a flexible model for addressing the crisis, based on regular assessments and the rapid adaptation of appropriate solutions when necessary.

Dr. Al Dhaheri re-affirmed that the country’s health sector is preparing to open seven field hospitals in March 2021, with a total bed capacity of 2,058, including 292 beds for critical cases. He noted that the field hospitals provide exceptional treatment services and are equipped with the latest medical supplies in accordance with the highest international medical standards to isolate the patients and provide them with appropriate treatment.

He noted that the country’s leadership ordered the establishment of field hospitals, as part of the UAE’s efforts to address the spread of the coronavirus, explaining, "The UAE has successfully provided over six million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 3,777,143 people have been vaccinated. Therefore, 48.71 percent of targeted groups have taken the vaccine. Moreover, 64.52 percent of senior citizens have been vaccinated."

The UAE is continuing to perform coronavirus tests aimed at the early detection of infections and curbing the spread of the pandemic, Dr. Al Dhaheri further said, noting that the total number of tests performed around the country stands at 32 million.

He also highlighted irresponsible practices and violations that have taken place, as well as the fact that relevant authorities are cautiously loosening precautionary measures and beginning the return to normalcy, which could further spread the virus.

In February 2021, the number of violations recorded around the country totalled 55,966, with failure to wear face masks as being the most frequent violation accounting for 47% of the fines in this period. It was followed by the lack of adherence by shops and commercial facilities to relevant precautionary measures, these accounted for 20.5% of the fines from this period, the lack of adherence to social distancing accounted for 17.5%, and the lack of commitment to the allowed number of persons in one vehicle by accounted for 8%, and large gatherings by 4.5%.

Dr. Al Dhaheri also thanked the community by saying, "To all members of the ‘Emirati White Army’ in hospitals and testing centres, both frontline heroes and loyal volunteers from all nationalities, thank you, our frontline heroes, who are working in silence fighting the pandemic to ensure our community’s safety, health and wellbeing."

Addressing the pandemic is a shared responsibility of all individuals and institutions, and the adherence to relevant precautionary measures is the real expression of everyone’s gratitude to the heroic achievements of medical teams and frontline workers, he further added.

The spokesperson stated that the pandemic has affected the community in many ways, most notably in terms of the increase of fake news that have negatively affected the efforts aimed at overcoming the crisis, but the country has harnessed its media capacities to offer the public accurate information and facts, and specialist digital platforms have been activated to communicate recent developments, and a national call centre responsible for information related to the crisis has been established.

The UAE has demonstrated the highest levels of transparency in addressing the crisis by regularly broadcasting media briefings to inform the public about recent relevant developments and precautionary measures, and has shown keenness to provide the public and the community with information related to the pandemic with transparency, responsibility and honesty, which helped contain rumors, he said.

At the end of the briefing, Dr. Al Dhaheri called on everyone to adhere to relevant preventive and precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of the entire community.