https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/uae-s-imam-medic-urges-public-to-shun-anti-vaccine-sentiment-1.1139197

Not looking good at all in hospitals. I just done a 12 hour shift yesterday. I’ve been seeing so many patients passing away that I’ve lost count.

There are several families with both parents inside. Some familes hadn’t seen their loved one for 4 months, who then just ended up passing away yesterday. Youngest Covid patient I saw was a 17 year lad in agony. Went in this morning to see another few passing away and over night non-Covid wards had turned Covid. Have seen staff in tears hugging each other for comfort and solace whilst seeing their patients passing away. It’s so heartbreaking to see, if a family member was then to give these staff members grief, forgetting that they are human beings too who have shed tears behind the backs of the family members for their loved ones. Those hospitals who never had Covid patients have been transformed to accommodate Covid patients which is yet another alarming signal. Then when you hear some of our communities in denial with conspiracy theories, it does make you think it would make them think twice if they saw what the nhs and paramedics are witnessing day in day out on the front line. Staff have lost their loved ones. Many off sick. Many of our colleagues have been off sick. I was asked today for two hospitals (on top of the ones I’m already covering) if I can cover all 7 days or else they would just have to put up a notice for the community that sorry we don’t have anyone to come and see you. It’s absolutely shattering and draining. Being their for families on the other side of a video call whilst their loved ones are taking their final breaths and fulfilling the final rites, are scenarios our communities have never had to face before. Families are strictly not allowed to reduce infection but it took a good few lives before it began to sink in our community that they are strictly not allowed to come into hospital because it’s to try and save their own lives. Staying in PPE or even masks in such environments for such long hours is not easy at all. There are those that are recovering as well but even one death is one too much. May Allah bless all the sick with Shifaa and protect us all. Aameen 🤲🏼

Moulana Asad (Muslim Chaplain, Birmingham QE Hospital)