Coronavirus: UAE reports 301 new cases from 300,191 tests

No deaths reported since March 7

A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National

Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National

Cars queue up at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. There has been a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for the coronavirus as schools opened for the second term and new weekly testing rules for government employees in Abu Dhabi came into force. Antonie Robertson / The National

Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National

The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

To enter Abu Dhabi, vaccinated people must show Al Hosn green pass and those who are not must present a negative PCR test taken less than 96 hours prior to crossing the border. Antonie Robertson / The National

Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rapid tests are becoming more popular for those needing a quick turnaround to travel or attend events that require proof of negative status. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE reported 301 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday after a further 300,191 tests were carried out.

The new cases bring the total number of infections recorded in the country to 890,699.

The Covid-19 death toll in the country since the start of the outbreak remains at 2,302 after officials reported no deaths in the 24-hour reporting period. The last recorded death was on March 7.

Another 873 people beat the virus, as the recovery total climbed to 866,102.

More than 147 million PCR tests have been carried out since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago.

A nationwide vaccination campaign, which has been central to the Emirates' coronavirus strategy, has administered more than 24.4 million Covid-19 doses to date, with about 97.6 per cent of the population now fully vaccinated.

Daily case numbers have declined recently, remaining below 400 for the past three weeks. Case numbers topped 3,000 in January.

The UAE is carrying out a cautious recovery from the pandemic.

Capacity limits at restaurants have been removed, travel rules eased and border rules lifted.

On Friday, it was announced a negative PCR test result would no be longer required to enter the country through its land borders.