UAE reports 481 new Covid-19 cases

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  Al Wahda Mall security staff check the Al Hosn app of visitors at the entrance. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

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  The UAE has passed the 1 million mark for Covid-19 cases.

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  More than 184 million tests have been conducted to date.

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  The UAE is the 68th country to exceed 1 million infections, data shows.

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  Case numbers in the Emirates have declined in recent weeks after a surge in infection rates in June.

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  Mass screening and an extensive vaccination strategy have been key to efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

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  There have been more than 590 million cases across the world.

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  Stay-at-home measures and deep-cleaning operations were introduced in the early stages of the outbreak.

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  Offices and schools were closed as a precautionary measure and flights were grounded when the coronavirus first broke out in early 2020.

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  Authorities introduced physical distancing and made the wearing of face masks in public mandatory.

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  Safety measures have been gradually eased in recent months to support a return to normality.

The UAE reported 481 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday after an additional 260,132 tests were carried out.

This brings the country's overall tally of infections to 1,015,879.

No deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, with the toll remaining at 2,341.

Another 540 people beat the virus and total recoveries rose to 994,898.

More than 184 million PCR tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic and nearly 25 million vaccine doses have been administered to date.

Case numbers have been on the decline and on Wednesday they fell below 500 for the first time in three months.

Authorities announced new Covid-19 safety rules last week for pupils across the UAE starting their new school year on Monday.

While nearly all Covid-19 restrictions have been removed, teachers and pupils are still required to wear masks indoors.

Meanwhile, authorities announced that Abu Dhabi will host a study into the effectiveness of an antibody therapy created by AstraZeneca over the next 15 months.

AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Sheikh Khalifa Medical City hospital in Abu Dhabi, will conduct a real-world evidence study on Evusheld, which is designed to help prevent patients with poor immune systems from contracting Covid-19.