UAE records 226 new Covid-19 cases

Another 619 people recovered from the virus in latest 24-hour reporting period

People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National

A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National

People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National

EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE reported 226 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, taking the overall tally of infections to 893,638.

Another 619 people beat the virus as the recovery total rose to 873,449 cases.

No deaths have been recorded in the Emirates since March 7. The death toll is 2,302 people.

An additional 241,982 PCR tests were conducted in the 24-hour reporting period.

More than 150 million tests have been carried out to date under a mass screening strategy aimed at limiting community transmission.

Daily case numbers have dropped significantly in recent months, having exceeded 3,000 as recently as January.

The reduction in infection rates has allowed authorities to ease some coronavirus restrictions, including making the wearing of masks outdoors optional and lifting border rules on entry to Abu Dhabi from other emirates.

As part of a recovery strategy, all pupils at Abu Dhabi private school are scheduled to return to classroom learning next week.

Distance learning will no longer be an option at the emirate's private schools, but pupils can be exempted if they have an attested “high risk” medical report that confirms their inability to attend school in person.

But authorities have urged the public not to become complacent and to closely follow remaining safety measures such as wearing masks indoors — apart from in the home — and social distancing rules.