HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has praised those on the frontline on the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in a new online campaign.

His Highness took to Twitter to post an emotional video launching the #ThankYouHeroes campaign, encouraging everyone to join together in recognising the fantastic efforts of medical staff and health authorities for protecting the public against coronavirus.

The video posted to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s 10 million followers shows the hectic scenes that take place inside the emergency department of hospitals.

In one of the first scenes of the video, a healthcare worker is seen putting down his phone in the middle of a conversation. A picture of a little girl blowing out her birthday cake candles is seen, to which the healthcare worker was replying, “Tell her that I miss her.”

Before the message is sent, he rushes to help a patient who has just arrived at the hospital.

In a second scene, another member of medical staff is shown looking at a picture on her locker stating the words, “I love mummy”. She then has to rush off to work.

More chaotic scenes are shown of medical workers rushing patients to be treated. The clip concludes with a series of officials, residents healthcare workers, police officers and more applauding.

“Thank you, our first line of defense,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said on Twitter. “Thank you for your sacrifices and your watchfulness for the sake of the country.

“You are the protectors of the homeland today and its loyal soldiers. I invite everyone to thank them and appreciate for their continuous efforts.”

UAE government’s stay home plea

In efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the UAE government is urging everyone not to leave their homes, unless it’s “absolutely necessary”.

On Sunday night, a joint statement was issued by the Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority telling all the UAE public to follow the guidelines that have been issued: limit social interactions and avoid going to crowded places.

The public has also been told not to visit hospitals unless cases are emergent or critical. If visiting, the use of face masks is urged.

Currently there are over 370,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide – around 250,000 are active cases, around 100,000 have recovered.

In the UAE, there have been 198 confirmed cases, 155 which are currently active, 41 have recovered and two have been fatal.

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Media: Twitter, Instagram.