UAE reports 1,529 new Covid-19 cases as doses pass 16 million mark

More than 61.5 million PCR tests have been conducted nationwide since the start of the outbreak

The UAE continues to distribute vaccines at a rapid pace. AFP

Dubai residents waiting to receive their first dose of Sinopharm's Covid-19 vaccine in Jebel Ali. Pawan Singh / The National

The Emirates Group launched a Covid-19 vaccination programme for staff in the UAE in January. Photo: The Emirates Group

Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose. Photo: Dubai Media Office

A billboard on Sheikh Zayed Road thanks volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trials being conducted in the UAE. Antonie Robertson / The National

A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre. EPA

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The UAE reported 1,529 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday after an additional 286,676 tests.

The latest caseload brought the number of infections recorded since the pandemic began to 654,813.

Four people died of Covid-related causes in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 1,880.

Another 1,481 people overcame the virus, taking the number of recoveries to 632,775.

The number of active cases in the Emirates is 20,158.

More than 61.5 million PCR tests have now been conducted nationwide since the start of the outbreak.

The vaccination programme is continuing at a rapid pace across the UAE, with more than 16 million doses administered.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said 76 per cent of the UAE population has received at least the first dose, with 66 per cent of residents fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, authorities in the UAE have been urged to follow Covid-19 safety rules when they mark Eid Al Adha, after health studies revealed an increase in deaths during previous celebrations.

Authorities said the average number of daily deaths related to the disease following gatherings for New Year increased to 16 - a 300 per cent rise.