Coronavirus: UAE records highest daily cases with 3,471 new infections

Abu Dhabi residents enjoy the winter weather on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A couple watch the sunset from the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A man plays at Arena Games at DIFC Gate Avenue. Reem Mohammed / The National

Staff disinfects the lobby at the Waldorf Astoria on Al Hamra Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Leslie Pableo for The National

A pianist performs at the Waldorf Astoria on Al Hamra Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Leslie Pableo for The National

Children play at Zabeel park in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A closed notice is pasted on the gate of a church in Jebel Ali in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A man sells balloons in Zabeel park in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A medical staff member answers questions from people getting tested at the DPI Testing Centres in Ghantoot, at the border of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Leslie Pableo for The National

Tests are carried out at the drive-through DPI screening centres in Ghantoot, at the border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

The UAE reported 3,471 more cases of Covid-19 on Monday – the largest amount of daily infections recorded to date for the seventh consecutive day.

The new cases raised the total number of infections to 256,732.

Another 2,990 patients were cleared of Covid-19, raising the recovery tally to 228,364.

Health authorities announced that six people died of related complications, increasing the death toll to 751.

Active cases increased to 27,617, after new infections exceeded recoveries for the 11th consecutive day.

Case numbers surpassed 2,000 for the first time on January 6 and have remained above 3,000 since January 12.

Officials have reported 48,910 Covid-19 cases so far this month, at an average of 2,717 per day.

Monday's cases were identified after another 142,388 tests were carried out. More than 23.5 million DPI and PCR tests have been conducted across the Emirates since the outbreak.

A nationwide vaccination campaign is under way with 88,743 doses administered since Sunday. More than 1.97m doses have been administered across the country to date. That is the equivalent of 19.93 doses per 100 people.

On Sunday, health authorities lowered the minimum age requirement for vaccination from 18 to 16. A statement by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority did not specify which vaccine the new minimum age applied to.

Two vaccinations are available in the UAE. The Sinopharm vaccine was approved for nationwide use on December 9, while the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine began to be administered in Dubai two weeks later. Both are free and the vaccination campaigns are voluntary.

On Monday, authorities said UAE government employees who were not vaccinated against Covid-19 would have to undergo a PCR test every week.

The rule, which requires the employees to pay for their own tests, is part of government efforts to limit the spread of the virus, preserve the health of employees and keep workplaces safe.

A similar rule is in place in Sharjah, where unvaccinated employees at private schools were told they must undergo PCR testing every two weeks.