Coronavirus: UAE records 1,599 new cases from more than 250,000 tests

Three more people died of complications from the virus

A Dubai ambulance worker is vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in Dubai.

An older resident receives her first shot at Zabeel Health Centre on December 27, 2020.

The vaccine is expected to be rolled out to all age groups once people in the essential categories have been vaccinated.

A nurse holds a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved for use by Dubai's emergency and crisis authority and the federal Ministry of Health.

An employee from Roads and Transport Authority receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Dubai.

A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

The city has six vaccine centres where the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is available.

A man waits to receive the first of two doses at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A vial of the vaccine is seen at Barsha Health Centre. AFP

A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at al-Barsha Health Centre in Dubai. AFP

The UAE reported 1,599 new coronavirus cases on Sunday.

This brings the total number of infections recorded since the pandemic began to 639,476.

Three people died, bringing the overall death toll to 1,834.

Officials said another 1,570 patients beat the virus, taking the total number of recoveries to 617,767.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said it carried out 254,639 Covid-19 tests in the past 24 hours

The authorities have used widespread testing, strict safety rules and one of the world's fastest vaccination programmes to curb the pandemic.

Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine has also been recently approved for emergency use in the UAE.

The vaccine has 94 per cent efficacy and becomes the fifth coronavirus vaccine to be introduced in the UAE after Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and the China-made Sinopharm.

Meanwhile, almost two thirds of the UAE population are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the health authorities said.

Officials said at least 63.7 per cent of the population have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

The latest figures also show that just under three quarters – 73.8 per cent – of the population have received at least one dose.