NMC Healthcare’s chief executive, Michael Davis, with Clancey Po, president of operations, and Dr Kishan Pakkal, the hospital’s general manager, opened the new drive-through facility with local community leaders, doctors and hospital staff. Photo: NMC
NMC Healthcare’s chief executive, Michael Davis, with Clancey Po, president of operations, and Dr Kishan Pakkal, the hospital’s general manager, opened the new drive-through facility with local community leaders, doctors and hospital staff. Photo: NMC
NMC Healthcare’s chief executive, Michael Davis, with Clancey Po, president of operations, and Dr Kishan Pakkal, the hospital’s general manager, opened the new drive-through facility with local community leaders, doctors and hospital staff. Photo: NMC
NMC Healthcare’s chief executive, Michael Davis, with Clancey Po, president of operations, and Dr Kishan Pakkal, the hospital’s general manager, opened the new drive-through facility with local commun

Drive-through coronavirus testing centre opens in Sharjah


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

A private drive-through coronavirus testing centre has opened in Sharjah.

The 1,393-square-metre facility can process up to 20,000 tests a day, according to its operator, NMC Healthcare.

The average time from registration to swab collection is less than five minutes.

The UAE was one of the first countries in the world to use mass testing for Covid-19 in March 2020, to restrict the pandemic.

Undertaking regular PCR tests to help continue the fight against Covid-19 is a personal responsibility of every individual to promote the health and safety of the loved ones around them
Dr Ahmed ElMansoury

"The population in many neighbourhoods in Sharjah is dense," said Dr Ahmed ElMansoury, consultant pulmonologist at NMC Royal Hospital, Sharjah. "[So] in order to block the chain of infection, it is important for every member of the community to practise Covid protocols.

“Undertaking regular PCR tests to help continue the fight against Covid-19 is a personal responsibility of every individual to promote the health and safety of the loved ones around them.”

The centre opened this week in a ceremony attended by NMC Healthcare’s chief executive, Michael Davis.

“As we dedicate yet another Covid-19 PCR drive-through facility to serve the ever-growing needs of the community, we remain grateful to the Sharjah Health Authority and Ministry of Health and the larger community for the trust that they have placed in us,” said Mr Davis.

The centre is open daily from 9am to 7pm.

PCR testing tent in Jafiliya – in pictures

  • The PCR testing centre in Dubai's Jafiliya area can carry out 1,000 tests a day. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
    The PCR testing centre in Dubai's Jafiliya area can carry out 1,000 tests a day. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National
  • The centre can be easily reached by Dubai Metro.
    The centre can be easily reached by Dubai Metro.
  • The centre is open for walk-in appointments.
    The centre is open for walk-in appointments.
  • A health worker freezes a swab collected at the testing centre located in the car park of Dubai's main immigration office.
    A health worker freezes a swab collected at the testing centre located in the car park of Dubai's main immigration office.
  • Tests cost Dh125, Dh80 for blue-collar workers.
    Tests cost Dh125, Dh80 for blue-collar workers.
  • The centre was set up by the Right Health group, which has opened affordable clinics for workers across the UAE.
    The centre was set up by the Right Health group, which has opened affordable clinics for workers across the UAE.
  • Staff register people at the centre.
    Staff register people at the centre.
  • The centre will serve those that live in the neighbourhood.
    The centre will serve those that live in the neighbourhood.
  • A man fills in his details before having a PCR test.
    A man fills in his details before having a PCR test.
  • Immigration staff are able to get tested for Dh65.
    Immigration staff are able to get tested for Dh65.
  • The centre is near the Jafiliya metro station.
    The centre is near the Jafiliya metro station.
  • The walk-in facility enables people to get tested quickly and easily.
    The walk-in facility enables people to get tested quickly and easily.
Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

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%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 2 (Mahrez 04', Ake 84')

Leicester City 5 (Vardy 37' pen, 54', 58' pen, Maddison 77', Tielemans 88' pen)

Man of the match: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.

Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.

The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
Updated: December 17, 2021, 5:53 AM