Coronavirus: UAE records 2,109 cases and five deaths

Mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination drives are key to the country's strategy to combat the pandemic

A health worker takes swab sample at a coronavirus drive-through screening centre in Abu Dhabi.

A health worker collects a swab sample.

A health worker wearing protective clothing administers a swab test.

A woman undergoes a nasal swab.

A health worker checks a man's temperature before conducting a coronavirus test at a drive-through testing centre.

A nurse measures the body temperature of a small girl.

A nurse collects a swab sample at the drive-through centre.

A man has his temperature checked.

A nurse administers a swab test.

A technician takes a nasal swab.

Cars line up as people wait to enter the drive-through testing centre.

The UAE recorded 2,109 new Covid-19 infections on Saturday.

This brings the total number of cases recorded since the pandemic began to 610,179.

Another 2,075 people recovered from the virus, taking the total to 589,235.

Five more patients died of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,752.

The latest cases were detected as a result of 267,968 tests, and the number of active cases in the UAE now stands at 19,192.

Mass testing and a nationwide vaccination drive are key to the country's strategy to combat the pandemic.

More than 54.5 million tests have been conducted across the UAE, with more than 14 million vaccine doses administered.

Earlier this week, Tamouh Healthcare opened a number of tents offering free PCR tests in Abu Dhabi, after the city’s new green pass system was rolled out.

On Thursday, a spokesperson said it had screened about 45,000 people for Covid-19 – almost double the number of patients than the day before.

Under the green pass system, members of the public will be required to show their status on the Al Hosn app before entering venues in the capital, including malls and gyms.

A negative PCR result is required to obtain a green pass.

But its duration depends on whether the person has been vaccinated, and for how long.

The system is currently suspended due to technical issues with the mobile application.

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee said the system would be on hold from Friday until the issue was fixed, but said it would be back up and running again soon.