As Healthcare sectors across the world combat the COVID-19 Pandemic, Al Futtaim Group responds to the UAE government’s call that the corporate sector takes on some of the burden of testing for and dealing with COVID-19.

Al-Futtaim Health, part of the Al-Futtaim Group, is rolling out its own drive-thru testing stations at six different locations, offering five-minute in-vehicle tests. The first drive-thru station became operational on March 29 at Festival City and is already doing between 100 and 200 tests per day for both group employees and eligible members of the public.

In the coming days Al-Futtaim Health will open the remaining centers, which will also be available to the general public, where tests will be offered at cost. These are expected to build up capacity of close to 1000 tests per day once launched.

In addition, during such challenging times, Al-Futtaim Health is supporting other healthcare providers technically and operationally as they manage the COVID-19 pandemic by using the collective expertise of its healthcare professionals and putting it at the service of the UAE, its citizens, and residents.

Elaborating on this initiative, Dr Haidar Al Yousuf, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Health said: “The first center is functional at Festival City and the other five at our Health Hub clinics in Al Ghusais, Discovery Garden, Silicon Oasis, Al Warqa and International City will be functional very soon”. “We want to do our part in sharing the healthcare burden at this time of crisis, our aim is to help by testing thousands of members of our community.

For us to be as effective as possible we ask everyone to complete the online self-assessment on the HealthHub website to assess their eligibility so that these critical health services are prioritized to those who need them the most”.

In addition to the drive thru testing stations initiative the Al-Futtaim Group has converted some of its buildings into self- isolation and quarantine centers.

Dr Haider Al Yousef concluded by saying: “the evidence is that testing and early identification of the infection, isolation of affected patients, and contact tracing is the most important strategy for flattening the curve and reducing the rate of infection in our community and that’s what we are doing. At this time, we must do all that we can to help our fellow citizens.”

Who is eligible for the test?

The center will carry out screening as per the international guidelines issued by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and used by UAE health authorities.

This includes anyone who is symptomatic (Cough or fever or shortness of breath), has had close contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case, or a travel history within the last 14 days. In addition, testing will be available for particularly vulnerable groups including: pregnant women, people above the age of 65, or those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, cardio vascular diseases, or those with a compromised immune system such as cancer and a history of taking immune-suppressants and severe acute respiratory illness.