National Editorial: We cannot allow ourselves to tire in the fight against Covid-19
Cases of Covid-19 are on the rise again. In Europe, South Korea, Australia and elsewhere, countries that successfully controlled the virus are now seeing a spike in cases.
The UAE is among the many nations to once again consider localised lockdowns, with officials warning of a 'second wave' if the public does not act responsibly.
Yet like many other countries, the increase in cases here has not been matched by a surge in deaths. So is the virus becoming less deadly - or are we witnessing the calm before the storm of a second wave of Covid-19?
While the mortality rate among over-80s is around 1 in 10, this plunges to 1 in 100 for those between 60 and 69 and is close to zero for those under 40
What do the statistics show?
Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic is still raging, with over 24 million cases resulting in over 800,000 deaths so far. Yet many countries who appeared to have successfully controlled the virus are now seeing renewed surges in Covid-19 cases.
Since the end of June, Spain and France have witnessed almost a ten-fold surge in new infections, now running at several thousand a day.
Even South Korea – widely regarded as a paragon of disease control - has seen a five-fold rise in infections this month, and on Tuesday closed schools in the capital, Seoul. Germany, Italy and the UK are also seeing case numbers rise, though far less dramatically.
In the UAE, the number of cases has crept up to several hundred a day. Active cases rose by 10 per cent in August.
Yet the surge in infections seen in many countries has not been mirrored by rising numbers of deaths, which have largely continued to fall or remain static.
Is the virus getting less lethal?
This is the most obvious explanation. It also fits in with the theory that pandemic viruses tend to mutate into less deadly forms, as they have a better chance of being transmitted if they don’t kill their human hosts.
However studies of Sars-CoV-2 - the scientific name for the coronavirus, which causes Covid-19 - suggest it has a relatively slow mutation rate.
As such, a substantial decrease in its lethality is unlikely to have taken place over recent months.
Are we just getting better at treating the disease?
Greater knowledge and better treatments – such as the use of dexamethasone – have cut death-rates among the seriously ill. While in March almost 60 per cent of Covid-19 patients in intensive care units died, this figure dropped to around 40 per cent by May and is still falling.
However, this can’t explain why the surge in infections has led to virtually unchanged death rates.
Are we simply seeing more cases by testing more people?
This is widely seen as a key part of the explanation. In the early days of the pandemic, many countries were forced to limit tests to people already showing signs of Covid-19 and thus more likely to die from it.
Now the greater availability of testing is leading to positive results from people with mild infections who are much less likely to die.
This weakens the link between number of cases and numbers of deaths. It’s even possible that the actual number of infections has changed little over recent months, and the surge is largely due to detecting cases that were already there.
Isn’t it mainly young people who are driving up the cases?
With testing now more widely available, it is also covering more of the population – especially younger age-groups, who are known to be at substantially lower risk of dying from Covid-19.
A recent international study suggests that while the mortality rate among those over-80s who become infected is around 1 in 10, this plunges to around 1 in 100 for those between 60 and 69, and is close to zero for those under 40.
This has prompted fears that re-introducing lockdowns in response to the surge in cases will cause major economic damage in return for little health benefit, as most people of working age are at negligible risk.
So should restrictions apply only to older adults and the vulnerable?
Some epidemiologists argue for a focused approach to dealing with the surge in cases, based on so-called "stratified" restrictions based on age and health status. Some studies suggest limiting restrictions on around 15 per cent of the population would strike the right balance between protecting the vulnerable and health services while not threatening economic recovery.
There is tentative evidence that people in high-risk categories may have already adopted this strategy voluntarily.
An analysis by the Financial Times of UK statistics show that while new infection rates have surged among younger people since early June, they have plunged among men over 70 and women over 50. This may partly be due to those in these age-groups deliberately taking action to avoid infection.
Should we just ignore the surge?
Not at all. While the surge may be taking place primarily among younger people with very little chance of dying, they remain capable of passing it on to older, more vulnerable people. This risk is likely to increase as more young people are compelled to move back in with their parents because of economic hardship.
Dying from Covid-19 is not the sole outcome of becoming infected, in any case: studies have found that many of those who appear to defeat the virus can still suffer debilitating long-term effects, including organ damage.
Robert Matthews is visiting professor of science at Aston University, Birmingham, UK
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
