Coronavirus: UAE records 2,683 new cases and one death

Another 1,135 people recovered over a 24-hour period

Abu Dhabi residents take the underpass in front of Al Wahda Mall. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has advised people to wear a mask when outside, whether they are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or not. Victor Besa / The National

People follow the mask-wearing advice. Victor Besa / The National

An Abu Dhabi resident orders tea near Al Wahda Mall. The public is following government advice to help keep infections down. Victor Besa / The National

Masked residents protect themselves and others as they take the underpass at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National

Face masks are available at a tailoring shop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Face masks are worn crossing the road. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE has had a successful Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Victor Besa / The National

Staff members of INAYA, the facilities management company, wearing protective face masks in International City in Dubai. Only two entrances are open for vehicles coming from Al Awir road before the Dragon Mart 1 and Manama Street to International City in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People wearing face masks in International City, Dubai. The UAE government has also advised residents to wear gloves all the times outdoors. Pawan Singh / The National

More people in the streets in Satwa. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sunset at the Corniche. Public beaches around Abu Dhabi are reopening gradually as Covid-19 restrictions ease. Victor Besa / The National

Although Covid-19 restrictions are being eased, many safety measures remain in place. Victor Besa / The National

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

The UAE reported 2,683 new coronavirus cases and 1,135 recoveries on Thursday.

Officials said one person died in the past 24 hours from complications.

The country has recorded 795,997 cases, 756,805 recoveries and 2,182 deaths since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the Emirates on January 29, 2020.

Widespread testing and tracing, stringent safety measures and a high vaccination rate have been credited for bringing down daily infections.

Daily cases dropped to double figures since reaching close to 4,000 a day in January last year but the spread of the Omicron variant has caused the number of infected people to surge again.

An additional 307,767 tests were conducted over the 24-hour period, bringing the total number carried out since the beginning of the outbreak to more than 116 million.

Elsewhere, AstraZeneca said preliminary data from a trial it conducted on its Covid-19 shot, Vaxzevria, showed it generated a higher antibody response against the Omicron strain and others, including Beta, Delta, Alpha and Gamma, when given as a third booster dose.

The increased response was recorded in people who were previously vaccinated with either Vaxzevria or an mRNA vaccine and AstraZeneca said it would submit this data to regulators worldwide given the urgent need for boosters.

AstraZeneca has developed the vaccine with researchers from the University of Oxford, and lab studies last month found a three-dose course of Vaxzevria was effective against the rapidly spreading new variant.

The data is the first released by the company from its trials for boosters of its vaccine.