Coronavirus: UAE records lowest number of Covid-19 cases for three weeks

The figure came against lower nationwide testing

The Third Place Cafe on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi has a sticker to remind customers of Covid-19 precautions. Victor Besa / The National

An 'X' reminds people of the need for physical distancing at the Third Place Cafe. Victor Besa / The National

The Third Place Cafe in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Sanitation workers at Haddins Fitness, Zayed Sports City. Victor Besa / The National

Places of worship, such as Shiva temple in Dubai, have been subject to restrictions during the pandemic. Reem Mohammed / The National

Fitness buff Natalie Navikova exercises at Cobra Fitness Abu Dhabi at Al Bandar. Victor Besa / The National

CrossFit class at Vogue Fitness Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A worshipper at Shiva temple in Dubai follows safety precautions. Reem Mohammed / The National

The floor of the main prayer hall at the Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai, is covered with plastic sheets to help tackle the spread of Covid-19. Pawan Singh / The National

Safe distance marking stickers placed on the floor at Gurunanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Midday prayers are performed at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Hotel beaches are now open to guests at the Ramada Abu Dhabi Corniche after Covid-19 restrictions eased. Victor Besa / The National

Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai has safety measures in place to help protect worshippers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Shiva temple in Dubai put safety measures in place to protect worshippers. Reem Mohammed / The National

Covid-19 safety measures are put in place at Mahamevnawa Buddhist Temple in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Residents wear face masks as they walk in Abu Dhabi city centre. Victor Besa / The National

People walk along near the Ramada Hotel Abu Dhabi Corniche during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A visitor wears a protective face mask at Al Shindagha Museum in Dubai. EPA

A man on his e-scooter travels along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as the sun sets. Victor Besa / The National

People wear face masks in Al Barsha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE recorded 1,065 Covid-19 cases on Monday, its lowest daily tally in three weeks, but against lower testing figures.

81,558 tests were conducted during the 24-hour reporting period, lower than the usual 100,000 plus-tests.

The latest infections raised the country's overall tally to 160,055.

A further 707 patients were given the all-clear, pushing the number of recoveries to date to 149,578.

The death toll in the Emirates is 554 after two more patients died.

Authorities have carried out more than 15.8 million tests since the outbreak began.

Mass screening remains key to the UAE's efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

This week, Dubai Health Authority launched a saliva test alternative to the commonly used nasal swab to be used by children between 3 and 16.

The UAE also slashed the cost of PCR tests in recent months and increased ways for people to be screened, including at drive-through centres and malls.

New daily infections were above 1,000 since October 19, but Monday's numbers are the lowest since November 3 when 1,008 infections were reported.

The number of active cases in the Emirates has risen to 9,923.

In the past seven days, the UAE reported 8,501 cases at an average of 1,214 each day.

During the same period, 5,646 patients recovered, a daily average of 806.

As of Monday, more than 59 million Covid-19 cases have been confirmed across the globe.

Close to 1.4 million people died after being infected with the virus, while the recovery total is approaching 41 million.

The six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council recorded more than a million cases of Covid-19 infection to date, according to a Reuters tally of data published by each government.

On Monday, the totals stood at 1,000,845 infections, with 9,160 deaths.