UAE reports 2,123 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths

There are 19,005 active cases in the country

Covid-19 inoculations started in Dubai for Chinese nationals on visit visas to the UAE last month. Chinese National Chen Gang gets his shot. Antonie Robertson / The National. 

The UAE has deployed mass testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination programmes to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. Pawan Singh / The National

A man receives his Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from a medical staffer at Guru Nanak Darbar temple in Dubai. AP

Covid-19 inoculations start in Dubai for Chinese nationals on visit visas to the UAE.  Antonie Robertson / The National. 

Vaccination process under way at the Biogenix Labs at G42 in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The 

UAE schools have already started vaccination drives for pupils between 12 and 15. Victor Besa / The National

A woman is vaccinated against Covid-19 at Al Barsha Hall in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE reported 2,123 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, after a further 249,746 tests.

It brings the total number of infections since the pandemic began in January 2020 to 596,017.

The daily infection rate in the country fell in mid-May, after peaking at nearly 4,000 in late January, but has recently risen slightly to a seven-day average of just over 2,000.

Officials said 2,094 people recovered from the virus in the 24-hour reporting period, taking the recovery total to 575,288.

There are 19,005 active cases in the UAE.

Four more people died from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to 1,724.

Government data showed 13,684,429 vaccine doses have been administered across the country.

The UAE's vaccine drive has now reached more than 80 per cent of the eligible population, officials said last week.

Meanwhile, families in the UAE who lost elderly relatives to Covid-19 have appealed to others to stay safe.

In telling their stories, they hope sombre reminders of the devastating effects of the pandemic will highlight the need to remain vigilant.

In Abu Dhabi, residents living in the emirate on expired visas can now take the coronavirus vaccine. This allows people who are switching jobs or out of work to get inoculated without delay.