Coronavirus: UAE reports 502 infections and 213 recoveries

People wearing protective face masks shop at Dubai Mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

A man wearing a protective face mask walks at Dubai Mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

People walk outside Dubai mall after the UAE government eased restriction measures and allowed stores to open. Reuters

People wearing protective face masks order food as they keep social distancing at the food court in Dubai Mall. Reuters

People wearing protective face masks and gloves shop at Dubai Mall on May 3, 2020. Reuters

People eat in the food court at Dubai Mall on May 3, 2020. Reuters

Shoppers wearing protective face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Shoppers wear protective face masks at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People standing in a queue and wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus outside the Carrefour Hypermarket at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Shoppers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Another 502 cases of coronavirus were reported in the UAE on Thursday, after 33,000 tests were conducted.

The infections bring the country's total to 16,240. Authorities said 213 patients had recovered, adding up to 3,572 recoveries.

They announced that eight people had died of the virus in the UAE, taking the death toll to 165 since the outbreak.

The new figures add up to 12,503 live Covid-19 cases in the Emirates.

The UAE has conducted more than 1.3 million coronavirus tests since January. These were carried out in hospitals, specialist health clinics and the 14 drive-through testing centres that were built across the country.

On Wednesday, Amna Al Dhahak, spokeswoman for the government, said the country’s average daily recovery rate had increased to 155 a day since the start of May, up from 100.

Despite this, Ms Al Dhahak said “we cannot underestimate the consequences of this disease”.