Coronavirus: UAE records 735 new cases as daily figures hit highest level since May

A further three patients died, while 538 more patients have recovered from the virus

A person holds an electronic candle as healthcare workers and supporters hold a vigil in memory of healthcare workers who died of Covid-19 in Alhambra, California. AFP

A health official collects swab samples at a testing site in Karachi. AFP

A healthcare worker collects a swab sample from a passenger during a 60-minute rapid covid-19 test inside Terminal B at Sheremetyevo International Airport OAO in Moscow, Russia. Bloomberg

A worker arranges chairs as they temporarily convert a public school to a Covid-19 quarantine facility in Quezon city, Philippines. AP Photo

A man takes a pictures in Tokyo, Japan. AP Photo

A shopping center is sparsely attended in Sydney. Australia. AP Photo

A worker checks the temperature of a woman before entering at the first weekly general audience led by Pope Francis at the Vatican. Reuters

Pupils are seen reading books on the first day of the new semester in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

Professor of physics and astronomy Dr. Jason Steffen teaches a remote Physics for Scientists and Engineers course from his office at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. The university moved fall 2020 courses with more than 50 students, about 80 percent of its classes, to remote instruction, with 20 percent of courses held in-person or hybrid. Getty Images/AFP

A passenger waits to board her flight at Tribhuvan International Airport after it reopened with limited international flights in Kathmandu, Nepal. Reuters

Unemployed entertainers and event workers stage a performance to highlight the effect Covid-19 has had on workers in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Reuters

Instructor Georgia Fitzgerald gives a demonstration of an exercise at a Barry's Outdoors workout in San Francisco, California, USA. AP Photo

People participate at a pilot test of restaurant opening in Corro de Quevedo tourist area, in Bogota, Colombia. AFP

A police officer patrols near the Capitol during curfew in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo

The UAE recorded 735 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, its highest daily total in more than three months.

The surge in infections - up from 574 on Tuesday -  continues a steady rise in cases in recent weeks.

The figures represent the largest daily total since May 27, when 883 cases were confirmed.

The UAE had not exceeded 700 daily Covid-19 infections since July 4.

The Emirates has reported 71,540 infections since the outbreak began.

A further 538 patients were given the all-clear as the recovery tally climbed to 62,029.

The death toll in the Emirates now stands at 387 after three more patients died.

The latest infections were detected as a result of 79,623 additional tests being conducted.

The UAE has carried out more than 7.2 million tests in total across the country.

On Tuesday, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, a UAE Government spokesman, said a failure to apply precautionary measures  was playing a part in the spread of the pathogen.

“We must not forget Covid-19 can spread inside the house the same way it does in public,” he said.

He advised people living with others to isolate themselves should they show symptoms.

"Do not be in close proximity with members of your family until you can determine why you have symptoms.”

If the individual is unable to isolate themselves, they should wear a mask at home.

“Ventilate your houses by opening doors and windows and increasing the air conditioning. Bad circulation can help spread the virus indoors,” he said.

Dr Al Hammadi said visits to elderly members of family and children should be avoided to avoid potentially passing on the virus to more vulnerable people.

He also called on parents to monitor their children more closely, now that schools have reopened.

Symptoms are the same in children as in adults but are typically less severe due to their stronger immune systems.