Coronavirus: UAE reports record high of 3,243 Covid-19 cases

At least 24,947 people currently have the coronavirus across the Emirates – the highest number to date

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 3,243 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday – the highest daily count to date and the first time the country exceeded 3,000 cases.

It brought the total tally since the pandemic began to 236,225. Of these, 210,561 have recovered after another 2,195 patients were cleared of the virus.

Officials reported six more deaths, raising the toll to 717.

Tuesday's figures left active cases at 24,947 – the highest number of people to be battling the virus at once in the Emirates.

Another 151,480 tests were conducted over the past 24 hours. So far, the country has carried out almost 22.7 million tests since the first local infections were reported in January.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention recently launched a national campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated, especially the elderly, and those with chronic diseases.

The aim is to vaccinate more than 50 per cent of the country's population by the end of the first quarter.

Almost 1.3 million shots have been administered since the UAE approved use of the Sinopharm vaccine.

On Tuesday, authorities said the vaccine had been administered to 108,401 more people over the past 24 hours. This brought the total number of shots administered to 12.09 doses per 100 people.

Vaccine demand in the UAE is on the rise and some clinics that offer the shot said they now have weeks-long waiting lists.

Several private medical centres said they are fully booked until March.

Call centres are receiving hundreds of enquiries each day and most medical facilities are referring calls to an online link for registration.

Government-run vaccine centres still welcome walk-ins and have urged the public to get their shots without delay.

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

Authorities have also dismissed false rumours circulated on social media about Covid-19 vaccines and warned people against sharing unverified information.