Coronavirus: UAE records 580 new cases

Another 699 people recovered in the 24-hour reporting period

• 

  Signs remind people to wear a mask at the Swiss International Scientific School, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Face masks must be worn in closed spaces and on buses for trips. Ruel Pableo /The National

• 

  Private and public pupils returned to school on Monday, August 29. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Schools are allowed some flexibility in their calendar, as long as they complete a certain number of days in the year. Chris Whiteoak / The National

• 

  Covid-19 cleaning at Swiss International School in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak/ The National

• 

  Pupils at AlDanah School by ALDAR, one of the many charter schools in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE reported 580 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

This brings the country's overall tally of infections to 1,012,786 since the first case was reported on January 29, 2020.

No deaths were reported and the toll remained at 2,341.

Another 699 people beat the virus and total recoveries rose to 991,359.

Nearly 183 million PCR tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic and more than 24.9 million vaccines have been administered to date.

Daily case numbers have steadily declined over the past few weeks and have remained below the 700-mark for a week.

As thousands of pupils return to school on Monday, mobile testing centres that offer free PCR tests to pupils and staff have been established at 226 public schools.

Over-12s, teaching and administrative staff and service providers at government schools must obtain a negative PCR test result no more than 96 hours before the start of the new school year.

Screening will be available until 10pm from Thursday until Sunday. Here is the list of centres where children and staff can be tested.