The UAE reported 1,278 more cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, raising the total number of infections to 188,545. The cases were detected after another 144,174 tests were carried out – adding to the 18.8 million conducted across the country since the start of the outbreak. Another 726 patients were cleared of the virus, taking the recovery tally to 165,749. Four patients died of related complications, raising the death toll to 626. The number of active cases stands at 22,170 – the highest to date. An immunisation programme is under way in the UAE with residents and Emiratis encouraged to sign up for a Covid-19 vaccine. Developed by China's Sinopharm and extensively trialled in the UAE, among other countries, the vaccine is free to all. On Tuesday, health authorities said those who had previously had Covid-19 and recovered would undergo an immunity test before getting vaccinated. Dr Omar Al Hammadi, spokesman for the UAE government's regular Covid-19 briefings, said the test would determine whether an individual had developed antibodies against the virus and assess if they needed a vaccine. “According to studies, those who had minor infections or did not show symptoms don’t necessarily have immunity against it. They will get the vaccine after a medical assessment,” he said. “Patients who suffered severe symptoms and those who were admitted to hospital are likely to develop a strong immunity. They will be advised to take an antibody test and will be inoculated if immunity levels are low.” With the coming winter break, Dr Al Hammadi also reminded the public to remain vigilant and continue to adhere to safety measures. “It’s the holiday season, schools are closed and more tourists are coming. We should abide by precautions, maintain hygiene and social distancing, wear face masks and be cautious when we interact with the elderly and those with chronic health conditions,” he said.
