Coronavirus: UAE records highest number of Covid-19 cases since July 9

Officials confirmed 491 new infections on Thursday as 402 more patients recovered

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The UAE recorded 491 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, its highest daily tally for more than six weeks.

The sharp increase in infection rates - up from 399 on Wednesday - comes amid pleas from officials for the public to renew their commitment to safety measures.

Government spokesman Dr Omar Al Hammadi said at a media briefing this week that case numbers had risen by 10 per cent this month.

He said people failing to wear masks or abide by social distancing practices were acting contrary to the efforts of the country to contain the pandemic.

"There have been pictures on social media of gatherings at hotels, without precautionary measures, which contradicts what we are working on," he said at the UAE's regular televised briefing.

"All members of society must be responsible and comply with these measures."

Thursday's case numbers are the highest in the UAE since July 9, when 532 cases were reported.

In a television interview on Sunday, Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, spoke of an urgent need for people to be vigilant to avoid a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

"We need to be aware that the UAE strategy is a balance between the health sector and the economy," he said.

"People think that by opening the economy, the pandemic is over. It is not over. And if we neglect it, then we will face a second wave."

The latest Covid-19 figures bring the country's overall tally to 68,511.

Authorities confirmed a further 402 patients had beaten the virus, pushing the recovery tally to 59,492.

No patients died, with the country's death toll remaining at 378.

An additional 68,043 tests were conducted during the reporting period.

More than 6.7 million tests have been carried nationwide as part of a mass screening strategy aimed at identified infections early and limiting the spread of the pathogen.