Coronavirus: UAE records 97 new cases

Another 129 people recovered over a 24-hour period

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

The UAE reported 97 new coronavirus cases and 129 recoveries on Monday.

Officials said one person died in the past 24 hours from complications.

The country has recorded 739,381 cases, 733,379 recoveries and 2,131 deaths since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the Emirates on January 29 last year.

Widespread testing and tracing, stringent safety measures and a high vaccination rate have been credited for bringing down daily infections.

Cases have dropped consistently to less than 100 a day since reaching close to 4,000 in January.

An additional 281,817 tests were conducted over the 24-hour period, bringing to 91,555,839 the total number carried out since the beginning of the outbreak.

20,526 doses of vaccine were given in the last 24hrs.

More than 97 per cent of people have had at least one dose and 86.98 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Emirates Airline passengers can now obtain a free PCR test on arrival at Dubai International Airport, allowing them to visit the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

On arrival, passengers simply have to show their Expo tickets — which they can get free with their airline tickets — to airline staff.

The testing lounge is situated a short distance before the immigration hall and no booking is required before taking the test.

The service is aimed at passengers who are not vaccinated, or who wish to get tested as a precaution. To enter Expo 2020, visitors must show either a Covid-19 vaccine certificate or a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours earlier at the world's fair gates.