Coronavirus: UAE reports 2,876 new cases of Covid-19 on highest day of testing

Another 2,454 people recover while active cases stand at 23,756

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

Another 2,876 cases of Covid-19 were reported across the UAE on Sunday, during which the largest number of tests were conducted.

The new cases took the tally of infections to 230,578.

Sunday was the fourth consecutive day that new infections were higher than 2,800.

The number of recoveries reached 206,114 on Sunday, after another 2,454 people were cleared of the virus.

About 89 per cent of all cases reported in the UAE to date have ended in recovery.

Active cases now stand at 23,756 – up by about 400 from Saturday.

And the death of another six Covid-19 patients took overall mortalities to 708.

Health officials conducted another 171,951 PCR nasal swab and DPI blood tests during the past 24 hours as the tally of screenings crossed 22.4 million.

The rise in daily Covid-19 cases is thought to be linked to the sharp increase in the number of residents returning to work from the winter break.

Mandatory, regular testing is already in place for many professionals, including staff in service industries such as hotels, restaurants and retail stores, along with transport workers, school teachers and frontline medical personnel.

Meanwhile, a campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated is under way.

More than a million shots have been administered since the UAE approved use of the Sinopharm vaccine.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said 66,219 doses were administered over the past 24 hours.

Authorities, who publish figures based on the number of shots taken, said 1,086,568 had been given so far across the nation.

The distribution rate is now 10.99 doses for every 100 people, the second highest on a global chart after Israel.

Two doses, taken 28 days apart, are required for the two vaccines approved use in the Emirates, those developed by Sinopharm and Pfizer-BioNTech.

Priority is being given to the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

The UAE has also agreed with Sinopharm to make its vaccine locally, in addition to securing millions of readily available shots for the population.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, became the latest top UAE official to be vaccinated on Sunday.

State news agency Wam said Sheikh Saud took the vaccine to support national efforts to curb the virus.

Other rulers such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, have also taken the vaccine.

The Sinopharm vaccine is available at all private and government health clinics, while the Pfizer-BioNTech inoculation can be administered in seven clinics in Dubai.

Al Safa Primary Healthcare Centre, near Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai, was added to the list on Saturday to accommodate the “notable turnout” for inoculation campaign, officials said.

Officials hope to vaccinate 70 per cent of the emirate's population by later this year as part of efforts to achieve 'herd immunity'.

The UAE plans to vaccinate 50 per cent of the population by the end of the first quarter.