Coronavirus: UAE records 234 new cases

Authorities introduce precautions aimed at safeguarding public health and curbing spread of virus as cases rise again

Billboards along Sheikh Zayed Road thanking the Covid vaccine volunteers for the Phase 3 trials conducted in the UAE. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease in Dubai. Reuters

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC in Dubai. AFP

The DPI screening centre on the border between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is quick and results are out in a matter of minutes. Antonie Robertson / The National

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

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara partnered with Tamouh Health Care to provide on-site Sinopharm Vaccination for all residents of the UAE free of charge in February. Pawan Singh / The National

UAE residents receive their vaccine free of charge in February. Pawan Singh / The National

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The UAE reported 234 new coronavirus cases on Friday.

This brings the total number of cases recorded since the pandemic began to 743,586.

Another 127 recovered from the virus, bringing the recovery total to 738,387.

No further deaths were recorded, meaning that toll remains at 2,151. The results came following 332,243 tests and means cases have increased by more than 200 per cent in a week.

Cases dropped to double figures since reaching close to 4,000 a day in early February but have risen back in recent days, however no deaths have been recorded for several days.

Abu Dhabi on Wednesday announced checks would be reintroduced from Sunday at the border for anyone entering the emirate.

Scanners that can detect signs a person may have coronavirus will be introduced at crossing points.

Authorities have also reduced the time for which the Al Hosn green pass remains green to 14 days from 30.

Mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives has helped the UAE curb the pandemic.