Coronavirus: UAE records 1,529 new cases

Mass testing and one of the world’s fastest vaccination programmes have helped the Emirates curb infections

A new drive-through offering Covid-19 vaccination and testing has opened in Abu Dhabi.

Seha said the centre can administer 200 vaccinations and carry out 1,000 nasal swabs and laser tests per day.

The new centre was built utilising shipping containers, similar to the centres recently opened in Al Sarouj in Al Ain and Al Manhal in Abu Dhabi.

All Seha centres offer Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines.

The new Seha-run centre in Rabdan has six lanes that cater for vaccinations, nasal swabs and DPI laser-based testing.

The UAE reported 1,529 new coronavirus cases on Sunday.

This brings the number of infections recorded since the start of the pandemic to 660,978.

Two people died of Covid-related causes in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 1,898.

Another 1,504 people recovered from the virus, taking the number of recoveries to 638,771. Active cases stand at 20,309.

The figures came after 265,482 Covid-19 tests were carried out.

Mass testing and one of the world’s fastest vaccination programmes have helped the country curb infections.

At least 77.62 per cent have received one Covid-19 vaccine dose, while 68.13 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, an antiviral drug used to treat Covid-19 has proven to be very effective at preventing deaths and hospital admissions among coronavirus patients.

Between 30 June and 13 July, 6,175 patients in the UAE received sotrovimab.

The drug was 100 per cent successful in preventing deaths and 99 per cent effective in stopping admissions to intensive care, authorities said.