Coronavirus: UAE records 1,395 new cases

Another 2,331 people recovered over 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 Omicron

The UAE reported 1,395 new coronavirus cases and 2,331 recoveries on Saturday.

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

The country has recorded 866,971 cases, 798,371 recoveries and 2,284 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.

Cases have dropped since reaching close to 4,000 a day in January, but spiked upwards after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

An additional 480,766 tests were conducted over the 24-hour period, bringing the total number carried out since the beginning of the outbreak to more than 130 million.

Elsewhere, researchers in the US have discovered that Covid-19 finds it harder to spread when temperatures are between 17°C and 24°C.

The findings offer a more complex picture than some previous studies, which indicated that lower temperatures were likely to result in greater transmission.

Above and below this temperature range, people are more likely to be indoors, which has a two-fold effect on virus transmission, the study showed.

Indoors, people tend to be around others, which promotes the transmission of the virus, and they are more likely to breathe air in a “mechanically controlled environment” because of devices like air conditioners.

Influenza, another viral illness, typically spreads more rapidly in the winter because, during cooler times, people spend more time around others indoors.