The UAE reported a record number of Covid-19 cases for the ninth day in a row on Wednesday, with 3,506 infections confirmed. A further 3,746 patients received the all-clear, taking the recovery tally to 235,421. Six people with the virus died, raising the death toll to 762. The number of active cases across the UAE fell to 27,456 after recoveries exceeded new cases for the first time since January 7. An additional 162,945 tests were taken during the past 24 hours. Close to 24 million tests have been conducted in the country to date as part of a mass screening strategy aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. It has reported 263,729 cases since the outbreak began. Case numbers have been on the rise since the turn of the year. The number of daily infections surpassed 2,000 for the first time on January 6 and have stayed above 3,000 since January 12. Officials reported 55,907 Covid-19 cases so far this month, an average of 2,795 a day. January's caseload represents about 21 per cent of the country's overall tally since it recorded its first infections almost a year ago. The UAE has embarked on a major vaccination drive in recent weeks as it steps up its fight to overcome the pandemic. The Sinopharm vaccine was introduced across the Emirates on December 9, with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot approved for use in Dubai two weeks later in a phased rollout which involves priority being given to key groups such as the over 60s and frontline workers. Dedicated vaccine centres were set up in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in support of the nationwide push. A further 95,783 vaccine doses were administered across the country on Wednesday, raising the total to more than 2.1 million to date. This equates to a vaccination distribution rate of 21.85 doses per 100 people.
