Coronavirus: UAE reports highest daily cases with 3,382 new infections

Active cases reach all-time high with 26,423 people positive for Covid-19 across the country

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

The UAE recorded 3,382 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday – setting a new highest daily infection record for the second consecutive day.

The cases were detected after 126,625 more tests were carried out across the country.

Thursday's new cases raised the total number of infections to 239,587. At least 215,820 people have recovered to date with 2,671 patients more cleared of the virus over the past 24 hours.

Health authorities said three patients died of complications related to the virus, increasing the death toll to 726.

Active cases reached an all-time high in the Emirates with 26,423 people currently testing positive for Covid-19.

In early November, active cases dropped to fewer than 2,000. The rise in cases this month is thought to be the result of increased travel over the winter break.

The UAE launched a nationwide vaccination campaign in December. Since them, 1,527,833 doses have been administered.

At least 133,253 doses were administered between Wednesday and Thursday, raising the rate of vaccination to 15.45 doses per 100 people.

This week, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said 250,000 people had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the UAE after receiving both doses.

The UAE's goal is to immunise 50 per cent of the population by the end of the first quarter.

On Wednesday, a senior Red Cross official in the GCC urged people to get the inoculation, saying unvaccinated people could put public health at risk.

Dr Fawzi Amin, the first GCC representative to lead the delegation of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said the benefits of getting inoculated against the coronavirus far outweigh any possible side effects of the vaccine.

Speaking during an online seminar to discuss the latest virus figures across the six-nation bloc, Dr Amin stressed the importance of getting injections as new cases increase across the region.

"My advice is do not wait, take the vaccine," said Dr Amin, who was an adviser to the World Health Organisation for nearly two decades.

“Each day in the GCC, we have 40 people dying," he said. "This is a serious disease. Even if you are not dying from the disease you may have a long-term health problem.

"The risk surpasses any side effect of the vaccine. We should not hesitate, we should be promoting everyone to take the vaccine as quickly as possible."