Dubai Field Hospital celebrates the full recovery of its last COVID-19 patient

-Patient was discharged today after testing negative for the virus
-25,000 sq. m facility at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to close its doors

Under the directives of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre announced that the Dubai Field Hospital, set up within the Dubai World Trade Centre, discharged its last COVID-19 patient today after tests results confirmed full recovery from the disease. Following the discharge of the last patient, the facility will be closing its doors.

At a time when the phased reopening of Dubai’s sectors, including business, tourism and air travel, is progressing smoothly, the full recovery of all patients admitted to the Dubai Field Hospital reflects the marked progress the emirate has achieved in curbing the spread of the virus. The success of the field hospital also reflects the efficiency of the city’s frontline teams and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which operated the facility with the support of the private healthcare sector.

Managed by Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, the 25,000 sq. metre facility was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, on 17 April, 2020. A total of 1,269 patients were treated and cared for by a medical team that included 279 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians, in addition to 200 volunteers.

Dr. Amer Sharif, Head of Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, said the full recovery of the last patient at the hospital is the result of concerted efforts of the government and private sector and the commitment of the community, which have played an instrumental role in the progress achieved by Dubai. This marked progress achieved by the emirate in curbing the spread of the virus was made possible by the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the encouragement of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Dr. Sharif reiterated that sustained implementation of precautionary measures and the continued commitment of the public and other stakeholders in following preventive guidelines in the period ahead are critical to fully eradicate COVID-19. “Dubai has demonstrated its preparedness and flexibility in tackling the COVID-19 crisis thanks to the measures undertaken at local and federal levels to tackle the pandemic,” he said, noting that a number of hospitals are fully clear of COVID-19 cases and have resumed their diagnostic and treatment services.

His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA, said: “The achievements of the field hospital and all other medical facilities in Dubai reflect the efforts of our frontline defenders, including doctors, nurses and technical cadres. The continuous efforts of medical cadres, who worked day and night to provide the best medical care, in line with the latest global protocols, has contributed to successfully treating COVID-19 patients.” Al Qutami further said that the recovery of all 1,269 patients that were admitted and discharged is a testament to the capabilities of Dubai’s healthcare sector.

Dr. Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare, Dubai Health Authority, and Director of the Dubai Field Hospital, said: “Following the reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases in Dubai, we celebrate today with the medical cadres of the Dubai Field Hospital the full recovery of the last patient who was discharged in good health. Preparations are underway to close the field hospital which has succeeded in combining the unique strengths and resources of the government and private sector to provide high-quality COVID-19 healthcare.”

Dr. Essa Kazim, Head of the Hospital and Medical Services Team at the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre, said: “The UAE has demonstrated its efficiency in combating the outbreak. As COVID-19 began to spread globally, the UAE took immediate measures to ensure the safety of citizens and residents and deployed healthcare workers from both the public and private sector to prevent exhausting the healthcare system.”

He added: “The Field Hospital is part of continuous efforts to enhance the city’s health preparedness and enable the health sector to deal with all scenarios. The Hospital strengthened our ability to deal with stable and moderate cases, thereby reducing the pressure on hospitals in the city and allowing them to deal with critical cases that require the care and intervention of different specialised medical teams.”

Fully equipped hospital
The field hospital was set up with infrastructure similar to that of a full-fledged hospital including radiology equipment, a clinical laboratory, a comprehensive pharmacy and other services that can be operated remotely. It was staffed by well-trained medical staff, including doctors, nurses and para-medical personnel from the public and private healthcare sector. Set up in record time in accordance with guidelines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), the hospital had a 3,000 bed capacity, out of which 1,800 beds were dedicated to intensive care. A total of 5,584 lab tests and 2,370 x-rays were conducted at the hospital.

Mental Health Services
The Hospital provided patients with mental health services with the assistance of robotic technology. A telemedicine robot was deployed to connect patients directly with a psychologist for counseling.  The device, which featured an audio and video communication system, was available to all patients. The Hospital also featured recreational facilities for patients, including a sports zone where patients were able to enjoy playing games in a controlled healthcare setting. The games were available in several languages including English, Urdu, Malayalam, and Tagalog. Other recreational facilities set up to boost patients’ morale and ensure their mental health and wellbeing included a movie theatre which provided weekly screenings, a gym, and a café.