The UAE reported 1,297 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing its total to 162,662. A further 783 people recovered as the overall tally climbed to 151,044. Four patients died, bringing the death toll across the Emirates to 563. The latest infections were detected as a result of 113,220 daily tests. The UAE has conducted more than 16 million tests to date as part of a mass screening strategy aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. The number of active cases in the Emirates has risen to 11,055 following a recent trend of new cases outstripping recoveries. The UAE has recorded 8,561 infections over the past seven days, representing a daily average of 1,223. During the same period, 5,507 patients have overcome the virus at an average of 786 per day. The UAE's daily caseload has remained above 1,000 for five weeks, last falling below four figures on October 19 when 915 infections were diagnosed. The country is playing a prominent role in efforts to combat coronavirus, across the Emirates and beyond. As well as putting in place a raft of safety measures to contain the virus - such as the widespread use of face masks and social distancing measures - the UAE is supporting the worldwide mission to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine. The UAE hosted Phase 3 trials of Chinese drug maker Sinopharm, starting in July, and made the vaccine available for limited use for essential workers such as medical staff and military personnel in September. On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi announced that those who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of the clinical trials would be exempt from quarantine when returning to the capital from abroad and would not be required to be tested to enter Abu Dhabi from within the Emirates. The number of Covid-19 cases across the globe has crossed 60 million, with more than 1.4 million deaths linked to the pathogen. The recovery rate remains high, however, as more than 41.5 million people have beaten the virus.
