Coronavirus: UAE records 1,171 new Covid-19 infections as active cases rise to almost 24,000

The UAE sets new daily record for active cases each day in the past two weeks

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

Another 1,171 cases of Covid-19 were recorded across the UAE on Sunday, increasing total infections to 193,575.

Health authorities said 866 patients were cleared of the virus – which requires an individual to test negative for Covid-19 twice consecutively – raising the recovery tally to 168,995. At least 87 per cent of all infections in the UAE have ended in recovery,

And three patients died of related complications, taking the death toll to 637. The UAE has a death rate of 0.3 per cent, one of the lowest in the world.

The number of active cases nationwide is 23,943 – the highest to date. The UAE has set a new daily record for highest number of active cases each day during the past two weeks.

Active cases have been rising steadily since November 4, when 1,822 people had the virus.

Sunday's new cases were detected over the past 24 hours, following a further 128,562 tests.

The UAE has continued a robust screening strategy throughout the outbreak to immediately identify, isolate and treat cases before the virus can spread. Since January, nearly 19.4 million Covid-19 tests have been conducted nationwide.

Of all the tests carried out, less than 1 per cent were positive for the virus.

A voluntary vaccine campaign is under way across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The Sinopharm vaccine, which is 86 per cent effective according to UAE regulators, is available at all clinics run by Abu Dhabi's public health operator, Seha, and at hospitals run by the private company VPS Healthcare.

NMC Healthcare is also offering the vaccine at 11 hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

In Dubai, residents can get the vaccine at Dubai Parks and Resorts field hospital near Jebel Ali.