The UAE on Thursday recorded 2,043 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of cases to 448,637. Authorities also recorded 10 deaths, taking the total to 1,466. Another 2,200 people recovered from the virus, with 431,773 people now declared clear of it since the pandemic began. The announcement came after the Ministry of Health and Prevention conducted 235,564 tests, with about 36.24 million tests carried out in total. Active cases now number 15,398. New coronavirus infections hovered around 2,000 for several days, but have fallen substantially since January, when daily cases edged towards the 4,000 mark. The reduction coincided with one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world. Authorities last week said they had vaccinated half the country’s population, two weeks before its target date of the end of March. On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/health/coronavirus-abu-dhabi-lowers-cost-of-pcr-tests-1.1190660">cut the cost of PCR tests</a> to Dh65. Nasal swab tests previously cost Dh85 at healthcare clinics and screening centres in Abu Dhabi. Testing is central to the UAE's efforts to curb the virus.