Coronavirus: UAE daily cases drop below 1,000 for first time in months

Active cases dip to 22,507, after six consecutive days in which recoveries outstripped new infections

Residents of Abu Dhabi walk home. Victor Besa / The National 

The UAE reported 944 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, the first time in two months that daily infections fell below 1,000.

The new cases were detected after another 152,146 tests were conducted across the country, and raised the country’s total infections to 201,836.

Recoveries reached 178,672 after a further 1,265 patients were cleared of the virus, a process that requires an individual to test negative twice consecutively.

Two patients died, taking the death toll to 657.

Active cases dropped to 22,507, after six consecutive days of recoveries outstripping new infections. Active cases had peaked at 24,173 on December 21, after dipping as low as 1,822 on November 4.

The last time cases were below 1,000 was 10 weeks ago, on October 19, when 915 infections were detected.

The country has carried out more than 20.3 million tests since the outbreak in one of the largest screening campaigns per capita in the world.

As the UAE prepares to ring in the New Year, authorities in Dubai have updated guidelines to allow safe gatherings.

On Saturday, the emirate’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said private family and social gatherings of up to 30 people will be permitted on December 31 only. The ruling covers private events held at homes and in tents.

Guests are required to wear face masks at all times and must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres.

Party hosts who exceed the capped number of guests will be fined Dh50,000, while guests will be fined Dh15,000 each.