Coronavirus: UAE reports lowest number of cases since Christmas Day

A man taking a PCR test at the centre in Mina Rashed. Pawan Singh / The National

Long queues at VPS Healthcare testing centre. Pawan Singh / The National

Cars queue up at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. There has been a huge increase in the number of people getting tested for the coronavirus as schools opened for the second term and new weekly testing rules for government employees in Abu Dhabi came into force. Antonie Robertson / The National

Many people are also getting tested before travelling overseas. A negative test prior to departure is required for most destinations. Pawan Singh / The National

The average waiting time was two hours at the MenaLabs Covid-19 drive-through testing centre on Monday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Some testing centres reported a huge rush and that demand for PCR tests had trebled in recent days. Antonie Robertson / The National

Long queues at testing centres and clinics in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

To enter Abu Dhabi, vaccinated people must show Al Hosn green pass and those who are not must present a negative PCR test taken less than 96 hours prior to crossing the border. Antonie Robertson / The National

Queues at the Seha Covid-19 drive-through testing centre at Mina Rashed in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Queues outside Parkview Hospital Covid-19 testing facility in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Rapid tests are becoming more popular for those needing a quick turnaround to travel or attend events that require proof of negative status. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Covid-19 case numbers in the UAE rose steadily through December as Omicron infections surged globally. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Read about the updates on Coronavirus

The UAE recorded 1,704 new cases of Covid-19 and one death on Monday.

This pushed the total number of infections to 859,361 and the toll to 2,265 since the pandemic began.

Monday's figure was the lowest reported since Christmas Day, when 1,621 cases were detected.

Another 1,992 people recovered from the virus in the 24-hour reporting period, taking overall recoveries to 786,642.

It was the first day since December 10 that recoveries outnumbered new infections, as total active cases decreased by nearly 300.

The latest cases were identified from 473,298 PCR tests. More than 128 million tests have been conducted since the first case was reported on January 29, 2020.

Cases surged at the end of last year and in January, as a result of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

While 48 infections were reported on December 6, daily cases had risen to 3,116 by January 15.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said more than 23.7 million vaccine doses have been administered, with 94.6 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, people who test positive for Covid-19 in the UAE do not have to take a PCR test in order for their status on the Al Hosn app to turn from red to green, authorities have said.

A red status on the Al Hosn app reflects a recent positive coronavirus test result.

Changing the status on the app to green, which shows that you do not have Covid-19, is normally achieved through a negative PCR test.

But in an update on the Al Hosn app under 'Pass Protocol', the guidance says you have two options to change the status from red to green.

If you have tested positive, the app says you can "quarantine for 10 days and wait for your code to turn green automatically on day 11".

The app says this green code will stay for 30 days, after which you must take a PCR test every two weeks for the next 60 days.

Alternatively the app says "if you are completely recovered within 10 days, you can take two negative PCR tests and get a green code for 30 days".