Coronavirus: UAE confirms 12 new cases

The latest positive tests bring the total number of cases in the country to 98

An abra driver wears protective gloves and a face mask in Dubai. Getty Images

A sign showing how to prevent infection is seen in Dubai. Getty Images

One of the staff member stands inside a Dhow Cruise which is closed as a preventive measure in Deira. Pawan Singh / The National

An empty restaurant is pictured outside Dubai Mall. Reuters

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in the colours of the Italian flag and "We are with you" message as a sign of solidarity with Italy. AFP

A view shows the Dubai mall almost empty of customers, as precaution amid the outbreak of coronavirus, in Dubai. Reuters

An empty beach in Dubai. EPA

People walk past shops in Dubai's Deira Souk on on March 15, 2020. AFP

Workers clean outside the Louvre Abu Dhabi on March 15, 2020. EPA

A man wearing a protective mask walks down the street in Dubai on March 16, 2020. AFP

A near-empty tourist boat crosses Dubai's marina on March 16, 2020. AFP

A man wears a protective mask at the shopping mall in Dubai. Reuters

A school gate is closed with a chain and lock in Dubai. AFP

Commuters wear protective masks on the metro in Dubai, March 12. Reuters

An attendant wears a protective face mask while using a fuel pump at an Eppco gas station in Dubai on March 10. Bloomberg

A member of cleaning staff disinfects a seat screen of an Emirates Airbus A380 on March 5. Reuters

A worker with a face mask disembarks from a bus at the Abu Dhabi Main Bus Terminal area on March 5. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters, some wearing protective face masks, ride the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

A trader walks by beneath a stock display board at the Dubai Stock Exchange in the UAE on March 8. AFP

A traveller wears a mask at the Dubai International Airport on March 8. Reuters

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, speaks on a mobile phone while riding the metro in Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing a protective face mask, walks in Downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk in downtown Dubai, on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters, wearing protective face masks, walk after exiting a metro station in downtown Dubai, March 5. Bloomberg

A commuter, wearing protective face mask, walks through a metro station in downtown Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

Commuters wearing protective face masks use smartphones on the metro in Dubai on March 5. Bloomberg

UAE landmarks were lit up for in solidarity with China’s efforts to contain coronavirus, Covid-19 in March. Bilateral trade between the two countries is set to accelerate, according to officials. Wam

The UAE confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus infection on Sunday.

The latest positive tests take the total number of cases in the country to 98.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the patients are three people from India and one each from the UAE, South Africa, Australia, China, the Philippines, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, Italy and Iran.

All are in a stable condition and receiving medical treatment.

On Monday, officials announced three more people had recuperated from the virus, taking the total number of recoveries to 26.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said in a statement that the patients, two Bangladeshis and an Indian, were now "symptom-free".

The bulk of the latest batch of cases were related to those who had come into contact with people entering from outside the country. The rest had travelled abroad themselves, Wam reported.

As of Sunday, there were more than 162,000 coronavirus cases across the globe, leading to more than 6,000 deaths.

More than 76,000 people have made full recoveries after recording positive tests for the virus.

UAE authorities have imposed travel restrictions in an effort to limit the spread of the pandemic.

The Federal Authority for Identity issued a temporary suspension of entry visas into the Emirates, effective from Tuesday, to curb the spread of Covid-19.

On Sunday, passport holders who qualify for a visa on arrival when entering the UAE will not be affected by the measures.

In response to a number of queries about suspension, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs have since clarified the rules surrounding the decision.

In an updated message on its customer support line, it said some travellers will be exempt from the move.

"Please be informed that all types of entry visa issuance has been temporarily suspended until further notice, except diplomatic passport holders and visa on arrival," it said.

An updated alert on the Dubai Airports website confirmed the same.

It said it did not apply to passengers holding diplomatic passports, those whose visas were issued before March 17 or passengers who hold passports from a list of 45 countries including the UK, Canada, Australia and the US.

“These passengers can continue to travel to and from the UAE although may be subject to additional screening,” it said.

All flights to and from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Turkey will be halted from March 17, until further notice.