Amid the ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has underlined the significance of complying with precautionary measures, even for those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. SEHA, UAE’s largest healthcare network, has stressed that the combination of vaccination and adherence to precautionary measures, such as wearing a face mask, practicing physical distancing, and regularly sanitizing hands, is the safest and fastest way to combat COVID-19.

Speaking over the development, SEHA Group Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anwar Sallam affirmed that complying with precautionary measures such as wearing a face mask, regularly sanitizing hands, and practicing physical distancing is as crucial right now as it was at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"There is still a risk that vaccinated members of the community contract the virus without presenting symptoms and passes it on to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses, within their circle of family or friends," he added.

Dr. Sallam noted that the health and wellbeing of all members of the community is core to SEHA's approach in handling COVID-19. SEHA is working in line with the guidance and measures taken by the UAE leadership to ensure the safety of the community. These measures have proven effective in keeping UAE’s COVID-19 infection and death rate lower than that of various countries across the world, DR Sallam added. 

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) Situation Report on COVID-19, UAE's Coronavirus mortality rate is 0.3 percent, which is significantly lower than the global average of 3 percent. At the same time, more than 29 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the UAE so far. These achievements are testimony to UAE's successful response to the pandemic crisis and uniting the community to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic in the UAE in March 2020, the government has implemented a wide range of initiatives to prevent the spread of the virus. SEHA has also ensured various efforts at the frontline such as setting up more than 20 drive-through screening facilities, launching a WhatsApp Chatbot, leading community awareness campaigns for safety measures, establishing three field hospitals in record time, participating in the development of the Al Hosn App for contact tracing, and playing a significant role in the National Sterilisation Campaign.

Dr. Sallam hailed the role of the community in SEHA's efforts that helped in achieving remarkable results in the national fight against the pandemic. He further called on the community to follow all precautionary measures to continue the progress and achieve the UAE's ultimate goal to defeat the pandemic.