Coronavirus: UAE records 461 new Covid-19 cases

Thursday was the fourth consecutive increase in daily cases, up from 210 on Sunday

A technician operates a thermal scanner to detect potential Covid-19 cases at Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National

The UAE recorded 461 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday – the fourth consecutive increase in daily infections.

The additions took the number of cases across the country to 65,802.

Another 131 people overcame the diseases, raising the recovery tally to 58,153.

Two patients died, taking the death toll to 369.

The number of active cases currently is 7,280.

The UAE carried out a further 72,283 Covid-19 tests in the past 24 hours, taking the number of screenings to 6.2 million since the outbreak.

This week, health officials warned the UAE could return to figures seen in March or April, when cases were rapidly rising each day.

Dr Adil Sajwani, a family medicine specialist at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, said the increase in cases was a setback for the UAE but things could be turned around if there was greater compliance with safety measures.

“People are taking things very carelessly,” he said.

“Just yesterday we saw the number of cases increase by something like 200 or 300, which means cases are doubling in two or three days."

He said safety measures were being upheld in public places but more commitment was needed from people at home.

"In this second wave, if we don't adhere to measures, people only have themselves to blame because the government has been and is still doing everything it can to maintain the safety of everyone."