Coronavirus: Four die as UAE reports 1,209 new Covid-19 cases

Number of active cases increases to 7,088 after the country recorded a seven-month low of 1,822 on November 4

A sign at a public beach in Dubai urging people to follow Covid-19 distancing rules. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Participants seated adhering to social-distancing rules during an event at Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee brings drinks to customers at Cafe Society in Dubai.  Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee disinfects a table before welcoming customers in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee checks a customer's temperature at Cafe Society in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors to Reform Athletica yoga studio in Dubai perform their exercises with their masks on. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee waits to measure customers' temperatures at Cafe Society in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A cordoned off swing along the Abu Dhabi corniche amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A signboard on Covid-19 precautionary measures at Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE reported 1,209 cases of Covid-19 on Monday, after a further 84,154 tests were conducted.

At least 680 people were cleared of the virus, having tested negative twice consecutively, and four patients died of related complications in the past 24 hours.

Total infections now stand at 151,554, while recoveries reached 143,932. The death toll since the outbreak is 534 and the number of active cases has increased to 7,088.

The tally increased by more than 5,000 in the past two weeks after dropping to a seven-month low of 1,822 on November 4.

Widespread screening has been key to the UAE's strategy of early detection, with more than 15 million tests carried out since January.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said it would continue to expand its scope of nationwide testing to ensure early detection, isolation and treatment of any cases.

Strict safety measures regulating any public activities aim to prevent further infections while also allowing a semblance of normal life to resume.

The UAE is also heavily involved in trials for a vaccine against Covid-19 being developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.

More than 33,000 people were vaccinated as part of Phase 3 trials conducted across the country, but primarily in Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, Emirates airline announced it would partner with global pharmaceutical producer Pfizer to help navigate the challenges of distributing its Covid-19 vaccine.

Emirates president Tim Clark told CNBC that the aviation industry was working on establishing the most efficient way to deliver crucial vaccines to the market, once they were approved.

He said the airline was working closely with Pfizer to develop methods to transport the vaccine.

Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech announced their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective.

The findings, that have not yet been peer reviewed, appear to exceed expectations, with reports suggesting that experts thought vaccines would be nearer to 60 per cent or 70 per cent effective.