Staff Report
The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has been converted into a massive field hospital with a capacity to treat 3,000 Covid-19 patients. The centre’s exhibition halls will allow hundreds of staff to look after patients, if numbers continue to grow.
The epicentre for business in the Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre has played a pivotal role in the growth of Dubai’s business tourism and trade since our inauguration in 1979.
Dubai’s health officials have said that the emirate is ready to deal with any emergency situation as scores of nurses and other medical staff are all set to deal with any influx of patients.
Humaid Al Qutami, director-general of the Dubai Health Authority, told a televised news conference last week that Dubai will set up two field hospitals. “We will have more than two field hospitals ready in Dubai in the coming days to be ready for any situation.” Al Qutami said the hospitals could offer 4,000-5,000 beds.
Al Qutami said hospitals in Dubai currently have a capacity between 4,000 to 5,000 beds available for coronavirus patients but that authorities are prepared to handle up to 10,000 or more cases.
The halls of Dubai’s World Trade Centre have been transformed into the Middle East’s largest hospital.
It is able to provide 3,000 beds – including 800 for intensive care patients, according to the centre’s director of engineering Ali Abdulqader.
The move is part of efforts to boost bed numbers to handle a potential increase in Covid-19 patients.
There were 4,933 cases of Covid-19 as of Wednesday, with 300 to 400 new patients confirmed each day this week.
Officials believe the country will turn a corner in the next three to four weeks as the nationwide stay-home order limits the number of new cases, and mass testing identifies who has the virus.
Speaking on Tuesday, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak thanked doctors across the country for tackling the virus outbreak.
“Our hearts stay with you all, as you’re wholeheartedly responding to the call of duty in such a time of distress,” said Sheikha Fatima, the Mother of the Nation and wife of the late Sheikh Zayed.
