UAE reports 1,541 new Covid-19 and five deaths

Abdulaziz Karmastaji receives his vaccine at the Seha vaccination centre at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area. Victor Besa / The National

Shaikha Al Dheiri waits to be inoculated at the Seha vaccination centre at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal area. Victor Besa / The National

Ambulatory Healthcare Services launched a child vaccination drive-through service at several healthcare centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Photo: Wam

Churchgoers and residents wait to receive a Covid-19 vaccine dose at St Joseph Church, Abu Dhabi. Photo: St Joseph Church

Churchgoers in Abu Dhabi register to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Photo: St Joseph Church

Shenaz Abdul Salam receives a shot at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through service centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Residents wait at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through service centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Aysha Ali receives the first of her Sinopharm vaccine doses at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Seha staff and nurses at the Covid-19 drive-through centre, Corniche Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

An Abu Dhabi resident queues at the Seha drive-through centre at the Corniche. Victor Besa / The National

Residents wait to be vaccinated at the Seha Covid-19 centre at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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The UAE reported 1,541 new coronavirus cases on Thursday after an additional 284,799 tests.

The latest caseload brought the number of infections recorded since the start of the pandemic to 656,354.

Five people died of Covid-related causes in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 1,885.

Another 1,497 people overcame the virus, taking the number of recoveries to 634,272.

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, the World Health Organisation warned a surge in coronavirus cases in several Middle East countries, aggravated by the spread of the Delta strain and low vaccine access, could have dire consequences.

After a decline in cases and deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean region for eight weeks, the WHO said there had been significant rises in infections for Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia. Sharp rises were also expected in Lebanon and Morocco.