Coronavirus: UAE announces 491 new cases of Covid-19

At least 26,761 people have recovered from the virus from a total of 41,990 infections since January

People wearing face mask buy fruits and vegetables at the Al Awir fruit and vegetable market during a hot and humid day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People have lunch at Cafe Isan in JLT on a sunny day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Safety measures put in place at Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple in Dubai as places of worship hope to reopen soon. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple in Dubai has put in place safety measures awaiting instructions from authorities to reopen. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Security guard checks the temperature of a visitor at the Al Awir fruit and vegetable market during a hot and humid day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A chef prepares freshly roasted chicken wearing a face mask and gloves at Nightjar Coffee in Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, to comply with health and safety measures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

A staff at Nightjar Coffee in Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, makes coffee as restaurants are allowed to open after complying with strict procedures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

A woman wearing a face mask walks past art work depicting Emirati boys playing in Al Satwa area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A worker cleans signs outside an Emirates NBD branch on Al Wasl road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People wear protective face masks while waiting for the bus in Al Satwa area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Pedestrians wear protective face masks in Dubai's Al Satwa area. Pawan Singh / The National

Rami, a jeweller, cleans a ring in a Dubai store. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mohamed Hawas Al Sadid, chief executive of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services checks the Covid-19 assessment center at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National 

Staff at the Nightjar Coffee cafe in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai follow strict  procedures  to ensure health and safety measures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE reported 491 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, raising the country's total number of infections to 41,990.

The cases were identified from more than 40,000 tests carried out across the country over the past 24-hours.

Authorities said a further 815 recovered from the virus, making it 26,761 people to overcome Covid-19 since the outbreak.

And one person died, taking the death toll to 288.

This week, the UAE's number of recoveries exceeded half the total infections since the first Covid-19 cases were announced in late January.

Globally coronavirus cases reached 7.5 million with 3.5 million recoveries and more than 421,000 deaths.

On Thursday, the UAE launched a campaign to bring back 200,000 residents who were stranded abroad for months after the country closed its borders in March to stop the virus from spreading.

The first phase that aimed to fly home 31,000 people between March 25 and June 8 had prioritised humanitarian cases.

Residents have been returning on a series of special flights as restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 are gradually eased.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said efforts were being stepped up to ensure people with valid residency visas were able to return.

Khalid Belhoul, undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, said 50 percent of the focus in the current phase would be to reunite families.

He said the opening up “will also facilitate the return of people working in vital professions to ensure the enhancement of the community’s quality of life.”

Residency holders must apply via the website smartservices.ica.gov.ae and can book their tickets after receiving approval from authorities.

The UAE imposed strict limits on air travel in March to slow down the spread of the pandemic.

This left large numbers of residents who were visiting families, on business trips and vacation unable to fly back to the UAE.