The global COVID-19 pandemic is taking a heavy toll on Keralites residing in the Gulf countries.
All the nations in the region, except Bahrain have reported a high number of Malayali deaths from the coronavirus.
According to the latest figures, 160 people from Kerala have died due to the infection in the region.
9 more Malayali deaths in Gulf
Meanwhile, eight more Keralites have died of COVID-19 in the Gulf countries, while one person who had recovered from the infection died of a heart attack.
Two Keralites succumbed to the coronavirus in UAE and Kuwait each.
Mohammad Ashraf, 56, from Malappuram passed away in Al-Ain and Chulliparambil Abubakar,52, from Changaramkulam Malappuram died in Abu Dhabi.
D Pavithran,52, son of late Damodaran, from Aranmula, Pathanamthitta and Mooppan Mammootty, 69, hailing from Kadirur, Kannur died in Kuwait.
V Vijayanath, 68, from Kollam's Anchal died in Muscat, Oman, and Shamsuddin (Ponnayi), 54 from Alangal, Naranganam in Pathanamthitta died in Jeddah. Mohammad, 58, from Chavakkad, Thrissur, died of the virus in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Moideenkutty (55) from Malappuram, who was under observation after recovering from COVID-19, died of a heart attack at the hospital in Abu Dhabi. He was an employee of the UAE defence ministry. He is survived by wife Razia, three children — Rashmiyath, Rashid and Shahid — and son-in-law Shabir. He was a native of Changaramkulam, Kokur.
Nedumkandam native’s death in Saudi due to COVID-19
Nedumkandam: A 52-year-old man who died while under quarantine as per the directions of the Saudi health department had COVID-19, test results have shown.
Kallamannilpurayidathil Sabu Kumar, a native of Nedumkandam, Thannimoodu (block 29), was employed as a foreman at the Jizan Economic City project of Saudi NSH in Baish. He died at the company’s camp. The company officials informed Kumar’s relatives about the cause of his death on Sunday night.
Sabu Kumar, who was suffering from BP and diabetes, consulted the camp’s doctor when he experienced fever and he was advised to remain in quarantine.
Relatives said the body will be cremated in Saudi Arabia. He is survived by wife Valsala, son Chaitrakanth, a plus two student, and daughter Krishnaveni, who is in class 10.
UAE records maximum deaths
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recorded the most number of deaths of Malayalis with 86. In Saudi Arabia, 37 Keralites have died, while, in Kuwait, the virus has claimed 31 people from Kerala. Three each have died in Qatar and Oman.
Saudi Arabia has so far reported 503 deaths due to the virus. In UAE, the death toll is 264, while Kuwait has reported 212 deaths. Forty-four people have died on Oman, 38 in Qatar and 18 in Bahrain.
In Saudi Arabia, 85,261 people have been infected with the coronavirus, of which 62,442 have been discharged from hospitals. In the UAE, 34,557 people have been infected, of which 17,932 have recovered.
Kuwait has 27,043 cases of COVID-19, of which 8,190 are Indians. The number of recovered people stands at 11,386. Similarly, in Qatar, of the 56,910 patients, 30,290 have recovered.
Oman has 11,437 cases, of which 2,396 have recovered. In Bahrain, 4,597 people are currently under treatment for COVID-19. It said 6,673 people have so far recovered from the infection.
Meanwhile, there was heavy traffic congestion on the roads in Dubai after the COVID-19 restrictions were eased. From June 14, offices will be allowed to function with the full staff strength. In nearby Abu Dhabi, restrictions have been imposed on travel for a week.
Kuwait has eased restrictions by removing the total curfew. However, a partial curfew will be in place for about three weeks. It said the visitor visas that have expired will be extended till August 31.
Qatar has allowed essential services to remain open on Fridays and Saturdays, but it said everything else will remain shut till further notice.
