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Abu Dhabi has topped a global ranking of 50 cities for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic with Dubai also making the top five.
The capital led the way for its efforts to safeguard public health, bolster the economy from the financial fallout of the outbreak and deliver strong vaccination rates.
The emirate was singled out for the efficiency of its government services and its quarantine management in the report, titled 'Ranking of the Safest Cities during the Covid-19 Pandemic for the Second Quarter of 2021', released by analytics consortium Deep Knowledge Group in London.
The first pandemic performance league table was published in April, with Abu Dhabi leading the way then, too.
The city headed the latest list ahead of Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Dubai.
Toronto, Sydney, Zurich, Dublin and Ottawa rounded off the top 10.
The UAE has taken a proactive response to combating the pandemic. A mass testing strategy and a nationwide vaccination campaign have been vital in driving down infection rates.
Field hospitals were set up rapidly in the early stages of the pandemic to ease pressure on health services, while stay-at-home measures were introduced when necessary.
Employees and pupils have returned to classrooms and offices gradually as part of a strategy to return to normality.
Safety measures – such as the mandatory wearing of masks in public – have remained in place throughout the pandemic. Officials have called on the public regularly to remain committed to safety measures and have issued reminders of the importance of following the rules during potential infection peak periods such as public holidays.
'Community was protected'
The top ranking was also made possible through the efforts of senior management and staff in various public and private institutions, along with the dedication of field teams and healthcare professionals.
"Abu Dhabi topped the ranking due to measures that contributed to enhancing the speed and effectiveness of its response to the pandemic," read a statement from Abu Dhabi Government Media Office.
"As a result of these measures, the health and safety of the community was protected, while maintaining an open and competitive economy. Abu Dhabi also maintained its position as a pioneer in scientific research, digital initiatives and technology, and a leading destination for medical tourism."
On Thursday, the UAE recorded 772 Covid-19 cases, its lowest number of infections in a year.
Case numbers have now remained below 1,000 for 17 consecutive days.
Infection rates have steadily declined during the summer months, having peaked at close to 4,000 a day in early February.
The last time daily infections were lower was on September 8, 2020, when 644 positive tests were reported.
The latest caseload brought the UAE's overall tally to 726,797.
Another 1,026 people overcame the virus as the recovery total climbed to 717,257.
Four people died during the latest 24-hour reporting period, raising the death toll to 2,057.
The number of active cases across the Emirates dropped to 7,483 thanks to an encouraging recent trend of daily recoveries exceeding new cases.
The latest daily infections were detected as a result of an additional 286,017 PCR tests.
More than 77.3 million tests have been conducted since the outbreak began.
The country's death rates from the virus have remained among the lowest in the world throughout the coronavirus outbreak.
Abu Dhabi hosted phase three trials for the Sinopharm vaccine last year before making the shot widely available to the public in December.
The Pfizer vaccine - initially rolled out in Dubai in December - was subsequently approved for use in Abu Dhabi in April.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Moderna vaccines have also been authorised by the UAE.
More than 89 per cent of the public have received one dose and about eight in 10 are now fully vaccinated.
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Abu Dhabi residents are inoculated at the screening and vaccine centre on the Corniche. A nationwide testing and inoculation campaign is credited with driving down cases. All photos: Victor Besa / The National -
Staff and nurses from the Abu Dhabi public hospital group Seha urged the public to protect themselves from Covid-19 by signing up to be vaccinated. -
Motorists queue for PCR tests at Seha's testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche. -
Mass testing and a successful vaccination campaign has helped the UAE to tackle the pandemic. -
Drivers wait at a centre that provides both PCR nasal swab tests and coronavirus vaccine doses. -
Shenaz Abdul Salam, 13, gives a thumbs up as he waits to receive his first vaccine dose. -
A staff nurse fills in a vaccination form for a driver at the Corniche centre. -
Mariam Al Badi, an Emirati nurse working at Seha's drive-through vaccine centre, has urged everyone to get inoculated against Covid-19. -
Ms Al Badi goes through the vaccination process with a driver. -
Cars queue at the drive-through testing and vaccination centre on Abu Dhabi's Corniche. -
More than 80 per cent of the UAE population has been vaccinated and the government is urging those who have not to sign up. -
An Abu Dhabi resident gives the thumbs up after signing up for vaccination. -
Authorities have made the vaccines free for everyone. -
A medical worker checks papers as Abu Dhabi residents sign up for the Covid-19 vaccine. -
The drive-through Covid-19 testing and inoculation centre has proved popular with Abu Dhabi residents.
