Could the first coronavirus vaccine to hit the market come from the Arabian desert, or is it just a mirage? The Abu Dhabi government’s media office said Thursday that phase three clinical trials of a possible COVID-19 vaccine are being conducted in the emirate, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The human trial is the first phase three trial to be included on the WHO list for an inactive vaccine. The trial is a partnership between Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm’s China National Biotec Group (CNBG), Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42 (G42) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, according to Reuters news agency. Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, president of the Abu Dhabi Health Department, was the first to participate in the trial. About 15,000 volunteers will be recruited over a period of three to six months. Other news about coronaviruses from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region:
JordanJordan said Thursday that it will reopen Queen Alia International Airport, the country’s main airport located in Zizya, 30 kilometers south of the capital Amman, to a limited number of foreign visitors next month. Government spokesman Amjad Adailah told Al Mamlaka TV state television that flights from 10 countries in Europe and Asia considered “low risk” for the coronavirus could land from August.
United Arab EmiratesResidents returning to the United Arab Emirates will face a fine of 50,000 dirham ($ 13,600) if they do not meet the quarantine guidelines. Dubai already reopened to international visitors earlier this month, while Emirates, Etihad, AirArabia and flydubai plan to resume operations at more than 60 destinations starting August 1.
Iraq
Iraq’s interior ministry announced Tuesday that nightclubs in the capital Baghdad will be closed as part of efforts to contain the new coronavirus. Casinos, gambling halls and points of sale of alcoholic beverages in hotels and salons were also to be closed.IsraelMeeting overnight between Thursday and Friday, the Israeli cabinet approved new weekend restrictions to contain the latest outbreak. They limit indoor social gatherings to 10 (aside from immediate family events), and outdoor gatherings to 20. All business venues except supermarkets and drugstores are closed on Fridays at 5 pm, reopening on Sunday morning. places like libraries, museums and tourist sites. The beaches will be closed on weekends from July 24. A news report said a proposal had been put forward for a full national shutdown over the weekends, including the move, due to legal obstacles.Palestinian AuthorityCoronavirus cases and deaths in the West Bank continue to rise. On Thursday, the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry reported three new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the total number in the territory to 50. The Health Ministry also reported 463 new infections, bringing the total number of cases to 8,616. , with 1,487 recoveries.Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia continued on Thursday with a decrease in the number of infected people still receiving treatment, with 2,206 critically ill patients out of 53,246 active cases. The kingdom’s health ministry announced 2,764 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections there. at 243,238. The ministry also reported 45 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,370. For more stories, visit themedialine.org
