Coronavirus: UAE records 1,352 new cases

Authorities urge people to act responsibly as cases steadily rise

A woman receives a dose of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine at the Sikh temple in Jebel Ali. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara in Jebel Ali teamed up with Tamouh Healthcare to provide on-site Sinopharm vaccination for all UAE residents free of charge.

Guru Nanak Darbar hosted an event at the Sikh temple in Dubai to vaccinate 4,500 adults of various nationalities and religions in February.

A medic administers a shot of Sinopharm vaccine at the temple in Jebel Ali.

People wait to receive a shot of the Sinopharm vaccine at the temple.

Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron

The UAE recorded 1,352 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

This brings the total number of infections recorded since the pandemic began in January 2020 to 747,909.

One person died, taking the death toll to 2,155.

Another 506 people beat the virus, as the number of recoveries climbed to 740,122.

The latest cases were identified as a result of an additional 361,321 PCR tests.

Daily case numbers have risen sharply this month, from less than 50 in early December. But they are still considerably fewer than the peak in February of close to 4,000 a day and authorities have ramped up testing.

Mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives, including the booster shot campaign, have helped the UAE curb the pandemic, even as other countries are forced to re-impose restrictions as the Omicron variant spreads.

Authorities in the UAE have urged people to act responsibly over Christmas and New Year and continue to wear masks and follow social-distancing rules.