UAE reports 1,084 new Covid-19 cases

Lab staff working in the sample preparation room at Dubai Airport (DXB). All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

Close to Terminal 2, the laboratory is a dedicated centre for around-the-clock processing of RT-PCR test samples collected from passengers at DXB.

Lab staff working in Dubai Airport's in-house lab for processing Covid-19 PCR tests.

One of the world’s busiest airports now has one of the world’s biggest in-house Covid-19 testing laboratories.

The laboratory reduces waiting times for passengers arriving by making sure their PCR test results are delivered in only four to six hours.

Before the lab opened in June, the passengers’ samples were collected from the airport every 12 hours.

Now samples are collected every 30 minutes and transported to the in-house facility operated by Pure Health.

Carlo Kaabar, medical director of Mohap Laboratories, at Dubai Airport's in-house PCR lab.

After a batch of samples is received, the staff first check their integrity and verify the passengers’ details using barcodes.

Dubai Airport's in-house lab for processing Covid-19 PCR tests.

If passengers test positive, they need to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines.

Lab staff scanning the barcode of a Covid-19 PCR sample.

The UAE reported 1,084 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, after an additional 242,117 tests were carried out.

This brings the country's overall tally of infections since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020 to 995,777.

No related deaths were reported, with the toll remaining at 2,335.

Another 890 people beat the virus, as total recoveries rose to 974,601.

More than 178 million PCR tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic.

Daily figures have declined steadily throughout last month and into this month after a surge of infections in June.

Case numbers topped 1,800 on July 3 — having dropped below 200 in early May — but have now remained at fewer than 1,500 a day for more than two weeks.

On Tuesday, 1,032 new Covid-19 cases were reported, the lowest daily tally in seven weeks.

Authorities have urged the public to remain committed to safety measures, such as isolating after a positive test and wearing masks when required, to help to support the country's coronavirus recovery strategy.