ABU DHABI, March 22, 2020, SPA --The United Arab Emirates has announced the detection of 13 new coronavirus cases and the recovery of seven more individuals. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health and Prevention during a virtual press briefing in line with the ongoing precautionary measures taken to avoid gatherings and ensure people's well-being and safety. During the briefing, Dr. Farida Al Hosani, the official spokesperson for the UAE health sector, highlighted the latest COVID-19 developments in the country and the measures taken by Emirati authorities to combat the spread of the pandemic. Al Hosani, who is also the Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases at the Abu Dhabi Centre for Public Health, said that the new cases were discovered at an early stage due to effective monitoring methods. All of the newly diagnosed individuals are from various nationalities, Al Hosani noted. She explained that the individuals were identified as having been in contact with previously diagnosed persons and were quarantined and tested accordingly. Others, she added, were individuals who came into the country from travels abroad. The spokesperson said that following the discovery of the new cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the UAE had reached 153. The new recoveries are from various nationalities as well, including two each from India and the UAE, and one each from Italy, Britain, and the Philippines, bringing to 38 the total tally of those who have already recovered from the disease in the country, she explained. --SPA 10:24 LOCAL TIME 07:24 GMT 0005 www.spa.gov.sa/w1292528