Coronavirus: UAE records 2,250 new Covid-19 cases

UAE conducts 239,525 tests to curb spread of pandemic

A medic tests a passenger in the back of a taxi at the drive-through screening centre at Mina Rashid in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE reported a slight increase in case numbers to 2,250 infections on Friday, taking the overall tally to 422,246.

There were 1,736 recoveries, raising the number of patients who have beaten the virus to 401,539.

Officials said 239,525 tests were carried out over the past 24 hours. Another nine people died, taking the death toll to 1,378

The number of active cases stands at 19,329.

UAE officials said during the week that the steady decline in cases over the past two weeks from January's highs would bring normal life a step closer.

UAE authorities delivered one of the fastest vaccine campaigns in the world.

Officials said inoculations were provided to 64.52 per cent of elderly people in the UAE and the campaign had reached 48.71 per cent of the population.

In other developments, a small-scale trial of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine in Abu Dhabi has shown 91.6 per cent efficacy.

About 1,000 volunteers were part of the trial just concluded and interim results are expected in April.