More than 33,000 police staff, as well as inmates, have been screened for Covid-19 in Abu Dhabi in the past three months, authorities said on Tuesday.

The General Command of Abu Dhabi Police said the mass testing programme started in mid-April and was conducted in cooperation with Pure Health, one of largest laboratory operators in the GCC.

Three teams of healthcare experts from the Abu Dhabi Police and Pure Health have been working hand in hand to conduct PCR tests, perform laboratory analyses, and generate reports, explained Brig Khalifa Mohammed Mubarak Al Khaili, director of the finance and services sector at the Abu Dhabi Police.

Lt-Col Thuraya Ali Al Hashemi, clinical researcher and director of medical services department at the Abu Dhabi Police, said: "The assigned teams are highly qualified to enhance the country's efforts in dealing with the coronavirus epidemic. The focus was on providing continuous testing and protection."

Associates and inmates at correctional facilities were also covered by the screening programme, the authorities said.

Dr Jordib Dat, head of medical services at Pure Health, expressed pride in partnering with the Abu Dhabi Police for the mass testing drive.

"We have continued our cooperation with providers and healthcare organisations in the UAE to implement similar screening initiatives across the country, since the beginning of the pandemic," he said.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

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