UAE records 1,356 new Covid-19 cases

Daily infection rate increased for the seventh day in a row

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 recorded 1,356 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, as the daily infection rate rose for the seventh day in a row.

Another 1,066 people recovered from the virus and no deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.

The country has announced 920,171 infections, 901,424 recoveries and 2,305 deaths to date.

The number of active cases now stands at 16,442.

The latest cases were detected as a result of an additional 239,305 PCR tests.

More than 165.5 million tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic under a mass screening strategy aimed at limiting community transmission.

Case numbers have risen markedly this month — more than trebling since 442 infections were recorded on June 1 — leading authorities to remind the public of the need to abide by precautionary measures.

The UAE will strictly enforce the use of masks in all indoor places, the government said on Monday, as it tightened rules on the Al Hosn green pass system.

At a televised media briefing, an official said there had been cases of people with Covid-19 breaching the mandatory 10-day home isolation period.

Any such breach is a criminal offence and will be dealt with robustly.

Dr Taher Al Ameri, spokesman for the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, said residents must be vigilant against Covid-19.

The validity period of Al Hosn Green Pass app used in Abu Dhabi will be reduced from 30 days to 14 from Wednesday, June 15. In schools, the changes will be brought into effect on Monday, June 20.