The UAE on Saturday has reported 1,007 new cases of coronavirus. Health officials confirmed 95,287 tests were undertaken with 521 recoveries and one death. Total cases in the UAE now stand at 78,849, with 68,983 recoveries and 399 deaths. The daily number is the highest recorded since the pandemic broke out and officials in recent days have again warned that the rise in cases is down to the lax attitude of individuals and institutions who failed to abide by regulations. The UAE has conducted 8 million Covid-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic - one of the highest totals in the world - and has been ramping up its testing efforts across the country. In a special briefing on Thursday, Dr Farida Al Hosani, the official spokeswoman for the health sector in the country, said the increase warranted some reflection on adherence to the rules. "On August 10, we had only 179 new infections but in just a month, we have exceeded 900,” she said. “This is a five-fold increase and it requires us to do a self-assessment.” The increase in daily infections is attributed to family gatherings, the return of residents and citizens from abroad, schools reopening and some supermarkets and commercial institutions not adhering to precautionary guidelines, she said. Of the total cases reported in the past few weeks, 62 per cent are men and 38 per cent are women. Of this total number, 88 per cent of people were infected due to family and social gatherings.
