The UAE reported its highest tally of Covid-19 cases for a second day as 1,158 new infections were detected on Thursday. A further 1,179 patients were given the all-clear as the recovery total climbed to 84,903. Two more patients died as the country's death toll rose to 421. The Emirates has recorded 95,348 cases since the start of the outbreak. The latest infections were identified as a result of 91,234 Covid-19 tests. Close to 9.8 million tests have been conducted across the country. On Wednesday, the UAE recorded a new high of 1,100 coronavirus. The largest daily tally previously stood at 1,083, confirmed on September 23. Last month, authorities launched a campaign, in response to the rising daily figures, to ensure people and businesses were adhering to safety measures to prevent further spread of the virus. On Thursday, Dubai Economy fined 17 businesses and issued warnings to 15 others for not meeting regulations designed to protect public safety. Inspectors visited fabric and perfume shops, grocery stores, pharmacies and computer retailers in shopping centres in Al Muraqqabat, Al Daghaya, and Al Ras, where they found employees not wearing face masks as mandated. Fines were issued to shops that breached that measure and warnings were doled out to shops that did not have physical distancing stickers placed on the ground. "The warnings aim to ensure the establishments’ commitment to the precautionary guidelines, and its role in ensuring the continuity of the businesses as well as the health and safety of their employees and customers alike," a representative from Dubai Economy's Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector said. Inspectors visited 633 other shops that they found to be in full compliance with safety measures. They called on the public to report any breaches by calling 600545555, or by visiting the Consumerrights.ae website. In the first two weeks of September, police handed out more than 24,000 fines for breaking rules designed to limit the spread of Covid-19. Most of those were given to people either without masks or to those wearing them incorrectly, around their chin or under the nose. People in Dubai were responsible for most of the offence, authorities said.
