Coronavirus: 1,649 people recover from Covid as number of active cases declines

1,076 new coronavirus cases were reported, one of the lowest numbers since the beginning of the year

An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images

A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images

One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National

An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP

A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters

An empty beach in Dubai. EPA

People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP

Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA

A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP

A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP

A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters

A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP

Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters

An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg

A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters

A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP

A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam

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The UAE has reported 1,076 new coronavirus cases, one of the lowest numbers since the beginning of the year.

The figures on Sunday were released after 309,026 PCR tests were carried out in the emirates.

On Saturday, 1,066 Covid-19 cases were reported in the UAE, the lowest daily figure of 2021.

The daily caseload brings the number of active infections to 16,434.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention announced two deaths due to Covid-19 complications, bringing the country's death toll to 2,020.

Another 1,649 people beat the virus and the total number of recoveries reached 690,926.

The figures were released as unvaccinated federal government employees were told they must now take a PCR coronavirus test every two days.

The decision, announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources on Sunday, will come into effect on August 29.

Previously the requirement was for a test every seven days.

The rule affects employees of all ministries and federal government departments. Local government departments are not necessarily affected by the decision.

Any outsourcing companies and public contractors must ensure any unvaccinated employees entering federal offices are tested every two days, at the expense of the employer.