Coronavirus: UAE reports 1,550 new cases and 1,508 recoveries

Authorities report five deaths in the past 24 hours

People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National

A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National

People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National

EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE reported 1,550 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, raising the country's total number of infections to 677,801.

The cases were identified from 302,236 PCR tests carried out across the country over the past 24 hours.

Health officials have conducted more than 65.3 million tests since the outbreak began.

Authorities said a further 1,508 people beat the virus, pushing the total recoveries to 655,183.

Five patients died, taking the death toll to 1,939.

There are 20,679 active cases in the country.

Daily case numbers have been below 1,600 since July 4.

At least 77.85 per cent of the UAE population have received one Covid-19 vaccine dose, while 68.75 per cent are fully vaccinated. Health officials said 16,645,208 vaccine doses have been administered.

In other developments, Abu Dhabi residents who test positive for Covid-19 will be given sotrovimab, a life-saving drug, soon after their diagnosis if they are at risk of developing serious symptoms.

A new protocol means people with underlying health issues, for example, are given an IV drip at one of a network of first-response clinics.

The assessment is made when Covid-positive patients report to collect a wrist band at one of the centres. They are assessed by a doctor and may be given other medication to help to alleviate symptoms.

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