Re: Lockdown
 

I imagine that there are sick buildings all over the place.

Re: Lockdown
 

I don't think the buildings themselves are the problem, per se (i.e. I don't think that the virus spreads through the a/c, for instance), it's the multiple occupancy. The virus is so, er, virulent, that once a member of a household gets it, it's extremely hard to avoid everyone in the house getting it. That's manageable in units of 2-5, but not in units of 10+. I wonder what this means for UAE rules about multiple occupancy: if they indeed find that this is a major cause of infection spread, they won't be able to go back to normal until they solve it somehow.

Re: Lockdown
 

Thanks - I’m more referring to ones with common areas, lifts, lift buttons, shared kitchens, shared bathrooms etc. We have it all. Quite possible a whole building in al quoz housing your security guys could be sick.

Re: Lockdown
 

Singapore, for instance, also has large, high density buildings but seems to be managing so clearly there are ways to make it work.

Re: Lockdown
 

Our lifts are for 4 people max now and there are taped out boxes with arrows and a sign instructing you to face the wall. :huh:

Good thing is, I know our neighbours have been staying home because their **** of a three year old does NOT stop screaming or crying. It used to just be daytime and evenings, but now it's 24 hours.

Re: Lockdown
 

I know my neighbours have stayed at home the whole time as I can hear their ****ing parties and weekly prayer groups.

Re: Lockdown
 

Why are people such ignorant bumheads? I live my life not wanting to negatively impact on my neighbours and surrounding people. Everyone should be more like me.

Re: Lockdown
 

Good luck, I'm sure you'll come out of it ok whatever way it goes. 9 years in recruitment is impressive regardless of location, but time in the ME is like dog years so it's like 63 years in recruitment in the UK

Re: Lockdown
 

Yep. Qatar banned taxi pick ups in the Doha industrial area back on March 12th and has had the entire place locked down for weeks as a single quarantine zone; supplies and medical staff go in, population not allowed out.

Re: Lockdown
 

And last night SIngapore announced a massive leap in cases because they began testing foreign workers in shared accommodation.

Re: Lockdown
 

I have a feeling Dubai has more workers in camps than Singapore.

Ignoring the labour camps, there is also a pile of people all over Dubai that are 6-8 in a partitioned flat. All over the marina, JLT, Barsha, Tecom - places you wouldn’t always expect. Some of the shared villas in Satwa are pretty horrific.

Re: Lockdown
 

Oh for sure, I think I read that Singapore had 300,000 workers in shared accommodation. Dubai must have way more.

Re: Lockdown
 

Had friends in a fancy villa in Umm Suqeim, prime location within 10 minutes' walk from the beaches. Across the street was an older single story villa that was clearly partitioned housing of some kind. Always had 20 or so Corollas parked outside it. I once passed it when someone came out of the front gates and you could see it opened into a makeshift tunnel divided by drapes. Quite a few older villas were subdivided into group housing or staff housing. I remember my friends talking about another property further up their street being used as a staff housing for a few months before someone complained and the municipality kicked them out. But somehow this villa across from them remained undetected, suggesting an influential Emirati landlord.

Re: Lockdown
 

In my time in Ruwais, I befriended one of the Nepali tea boys - Before I left I gave him my old phone, and he has been my best friend ever since.

Been chatting to him on facebook, asking him how it is going for him, off work, unpaid and in a labour camp - from what he is describing - I would genuinely rather have a 3 month stint in prison here in the UK than being 'free' and what they are having to endure. That perhaps is even true during normal times tbf, but definitely now.

Re: Lockdown
 

Yes, I knew the same in Dubai, but much more discreet - you couldn't tell from the outside. It had basically been converted into a hostel. Influential tenant + influential landlord.

Re: Lockdown
 

That's pretty much standard accommodation for many lower paid employees across a lot of the ME region I think. Filipinos in Qatar typically share one large three or 4 bedroom flat between 8-12 people. Not uncommon for some to share bedspace, dayshift/nightshift changeover. A lot of larger older villas are divided into separate small apartments which are then each shared by 3-5 people. Apparently illegal but seemingly zero enforcement until someone needs it.

Re: Lockdown
 

almost all the old villas on the road from city walk to satwa are high density labour accommodation. I’ve been in a couple and it’s easy to find six+ to a room. 10 Filipinos in a room in satwa is not uncommon. Remember that when you’re considering employing a live out housemaid/ cleaner.

Re: Lockdown
 

Mass testing areas now being put together at Expo and Dubai Parks & Resorts . Big focus now for labour .

Re: Lockdown
 

Anyone seen the videos coming out of Naïf overnight?

Re: Lockdown
 

Ive heard some nasty rumours for that part of town .

Re: Lockdown
 

I think about 50% of the UAE population are NRIs, so you can extrapolate from that as you will how many are in migrant accommodation.

Re: Lockdown
 

No. Links please. Youtube?

Re: Lockdown
 

I don’t have them. 🙂

Re: Lockdown
 

Let me guess, ambulances everywhere?

Re: Lockdown
 

I'm not going to post on this again until there is a societal consensus, but wanted to point out the following:

• WHO in March - death rate estimated @ 6%,
• Imperial College last week of March - death rate estimated @ less than 1%
• University of Bonn - first week in April - death rate estimated @ 0.37% based on first serology study (more reliable)
• Stanford University - third week in April - death rate estimated @ as low as 0.1%, based on second serology test (most reliable)

I'm sure we can all spot the trend and in time I believe current events will be seen as an overreaction of historic proportions. But meanwhile, let's continue to burn the world..

:popcorn:

Re: Lockdown
 

fear rate is 89pct tho

Re: Lockdown
 

I'm not sure whether to laugh ... or cry

Re: Lockdown
 

Yeah, every administrator I've ever worked with here has been in shared accommodation in Deira (etc) paying for bed space, not a room.

Nope, what they showing?

Imagine if the governments did nothing? It's one of those situations where they can't and won't win. I'd like to see the world open up again ASAP so we can get back to 'normal' but I'd also rather not have this germ.

Re: Lockdown
 

As is almost every shopping assistant, waitress, delivery driver, taxi driver, cook, cleaner, receptionist, cashier etc. It's a difficult job to resolve. The labour accommodation of some of the cashiers is horrific.

Even the top-tier places have its staff in mass accommodation in Al Quoz. While the one I'm thinking of is actually very nice and clean, and density is low (2 to a room), they all eat together in the canteen and share shower blocks.

Re: Lockdown
 

I'm surprised it's not made international press to be honest. Would expect Channel 4 to have a documentary on it already.

Re: Lockdown
 

In fairness though, despite the structure problems, I think the government are doing a great job in clearing all this up. Organized, efficient and seemingly in control. Unlike pretty much anywhere else. But we really need to get back to work.

Re: Lockdown
 

Seen the testing stats? The UAE appears to be a world leader.

The shift in permits being one every 3 days now will help too. Looking out the window at the weekend it was far busier than it has been in recent weeks. People have been locked down for a while now - we must be 3ish weeks? People start to get restless. I know the people above me had a party at the weekend (I say party, I could hear more than just a few voices on the balcony).

Re: Lockdown
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...5edab20810.png
Updated piccies. Same data in both charts, just the right hand one uses a log scale.
In terms of doubling rates, US still numbah one. Plucky UK getting close though. For reference, in the UAE the doubling rate is roughly every 7.5 days but there's not really enough deaths (mash'allah) to have proper stats.

Re: Lockdown
 

I've been at home since 12th March as I couldn't make the representation of no health problems to go to the office (I had a cold so wasn't allowed in). At least three of our neighbours had parties this weekend given the music, voices and BBQ smells in the gardens.

Re: Lockdown
 

Just looked at my calendar, we were told on the 15th March we could work from home. The next week we had freedom to exercise and we went out every morning I think, or at least most mornings. Then that was canned and it was confinement. I think I did almost two weeks before I went out again, have only been out twice since then as well, with permits those times.

I can dig it, I'm a lazy bastard and normally have to find reasons not to see other people or go places. Now I don't.

Re: Lockdown
 

Tee times are booked solid for the next two weekends up in RAK

Re: Lockdown
 

Are people just chancing it without a permit then?

Re: Lockdown
 

Yes , i know fellas playing 3 times per week

Re: Lockdown
 

Mental.

That being said, I miss it. If you were sent out in 2balls either walking or separate buggies I don't see any issues with golf really. It would be a good way to get a lot of people moving again. I'm sure there are other similar opportunities with other sports too.

Re: Lockdown
 

Agreed mate , not being able to run or cycle is killing me but you've got to adapt and do the right thing . There's two ways this will go at the weekend and that's a full shut down or a slight relaxation due to movement during Ramadan.

One things for sure, business needs to get moving again and quickly .