Coronavirus: UAE announces 567 new cases after almost 19,000 more tests in 24 hours

Nearly 3,000 patients in the country have now recovered from the infection

People wearing protective face masks shop at Dubai Mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

A man wearing a protective face mask walks at Dubai Mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

People walk outside Dubai mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

People wearing protective face masks order food as they keep social distancing at the food court in Dubai Mall. Reuters

People wearing protective face masks and gloves shop at Dubai Mall on May 3, 2020. Reuters

People eat in the food court at Dubai Mall on May 3, 2020. Reuters

Shoppers wearing protective face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Shoppers wear protective face masks at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People standing in a queue and wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outside the Carrefour Hypermarket at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Shoppers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

UAE authorities have announced another 567 cases of coronavirus after 18,698 tests.

That took the total number of patients infected in the country to 14,730.

Officials said another 203 patients had recovered since Sunday, with 2,966 people now having beaten the disease.

As of May 4, 137 residents in the Emirates have died as a result of contracting Covid-19, with one patient still in critical condition.

Globally, there have been more than 3.6 million cases, causing more than 250,000 deaths.

Of those patients who still have the virus, 2.1 million have been diagnosed with mild symptoms while 50,000 are in a serious or critical condition.

The European Commission launched an international alliance aimed at helping fund research on a vaccine for Covid-19.

The Brussels-led initiative hopes to raise about Dh30 billion (US$8.18bn) to support the global response to the ongoing pandemic.

Meanwhile, Emirates officials also announced that Expo 2020 Dubai would be postponed until October 2021.

Organisers said the six-month fair, which was due to start this year, would now "help shape a post-pandemic world".

Addressing the postponement, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said the UAE remained committed to holding an unparalleled extravaganza next year.

“We welcome the decision of the Bureau International des Expositions member states to support the delay of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year," Sheikh Ahmed said.

"We are thankful to member states for their continued commitment to contributing to a World Expo in Dubai that will play a pivotal role in shaping our post-pandemic world at a time when it will be most needed."