UAE reports 987 new Covid-19 cases after record 348,771 tests

A further 1,554 people recovered from the virus in latest 24-hour reporting period

Shoppers with face masks and gloves to protect against Covid-19, in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah 32 area. Victor Besa / The National

Abdul Aziz, a watch salesman at the City Night gift shop, Mussafah 32, wears a mask as protection against Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Staff and customers with face masks at a mobile phone shop at Mussafah 32. Victor Besa / The National

A mobile phone shop customer at Mussafah 32 area. Victor Besa / The National

A barrier along the Baniyas road entrance to the quarantined Al Ras area in Deira, Dubai, early in the pandemic. Antonie Robertson/The National

Dubai's Al Ras area was locked down for almost a month in April 2020 and widespread testing conducted, due to concerns about potential cases in the area. Antonie Robertson/The National

A sign makes Covid-19 instructions clear, as a passenger waits for a train on the Dubai Metro. AP Photo

Pedestrians walk through a traditional Dubai souq where many shops had closed temporarily due to Covid-19, early in the pandemic. AP Photo

Passengers adhere to social distancing as they enter a train on the Dubai Metro. AFP

Dubai Metro passengers keep a safe distance. AFP

The barrier along the Baniyas Road entrance to the quarantined Al Ras area in Deira, Dubai, in April 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

Staff working on an ICU ward treating Covid-19 patients, at the Prime Hospital, in Al Garhoud, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE recorded a further 987 Covid-19 infections on Sunday, as new cases remained below 1,000 for the sixth day in a row.

The latest caseload – which brought the country's overall tally to 716,381 – were detected as a result of a record 348,771 PCR tests in the 24-hour reporting period.

More than 74.1 million tests have been conducted nationwide since the outbreak began at the end of January 2020.

Another 1,554 people beat the virus, raising the recovery total to 702,102.

Two more people died after contracting the coronavirus, taking the death toll to 2,038.

The number of active cases fell to 12,241, thanks to the ongoing trend of recoveries exceeding new infections.