Coronavirus: UAE records 614 Covid-19 cases as recoveries exceed new infections

A further 639 people recovered from the virus while no patients died during the reporting period

Health workers handle a test sample at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Health workers at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Volunteers and identical twins Noura, right, and Muna Mohammed Lengawi pose for a photo at the National Screening Centre in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pedestrians wearing face masks cross the busy intesection of Al Khaleej Al Tejari Street and Mustaqbal Street in Dubai's Business Bay. Antonie Robertson / The National

Pedestrians wearing face masks cross the busy road at Al Khaleej Al Tejari Street and Mustaqbal Street in Business Bay, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

People walk wearing face masks on a street in Ankara. The Turkish capital has now the highest number of active coronavirus cases, having overtaken Istanbul. AP Photo

People walk on a street in Ankara. The Turkish capital has now the highest number of active coronavirus cases, having overtaken Istanbul. AP Photo

A Palestinian street vendor sells face masks in Gaza City. AFP

Clowns entertain Palestinian children during lockdown in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

A mask-clad man holds a piece of cotton against his arm after providing a blood sample at a military hospital in the town of El Hamma in Tunisia's south-west Gabes governorate. AFP

Nurses clad in PPE tend to an intubated Covid-19 patient at a hospital in the town of Gabes in Tunisia's south-west governorate of the same name. AFP

People queue to get tested in the town of El Hamma in Tunisia's south-west Gabes governorate. AFP

The UAE recorded 614 Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 72,154.

Recoveries outstripped new infections as 639 more patients beat the virus, pushing the overall tally to 62,668.

The death toll in the Emirates remains at 387 after no patients died during the 24-hour reporting period.

The latest cases were detected after an additional 67,821 tests were conducted.

The UAE has carried out more than 7.3 million tests since the outbreak began as part of a sustained mass screening strategy.

There are 9,099 active Covid-19 cases across the country.

Thursday's Covid-19 figures represent a significant reduction on the 735 cases confirmed on Wednesday, which was the highest number since May 27.

Infection rates have been steadily on the rise in recent weeks, prompting calls from officials for residents to recommit to safety measures such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing measures.

The average daily case total over the past seven days stands at 520.

Infection rates were as low as 164 on August 3 but have not fallen below 300 since August 24.

On Wednesday, Dr Anwar Sallam, chief medical officer of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), which runs the capital's public hospitals, said the increase in daily figures came as a result of people failing to abide by precautionary measures.

"Unfortunately, the numbers are gradually increasing, which is an expected consequence when the public ease on precautionary measures," he said.

He called on the public to come together to help contain the virus, as they did in the early stages of the outbreak.

"We demonstrated in the early stages of the pandemic that when all of us as a community apply these precautionary measures, we sail through it with flying colours," he said.

"I would highly advocate that we first of all not panic or be scared that the numbers are increasing, but rather look back and revisit to what extent we are adhering to those precautionary measures."