Coronavirus: UAE records 1,249 new cases

Another 977 people recovered over a 24-hour period

Abu Dhabi residents wait to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Biogenix Labs at G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National

From August 20, most public spaces in the emirates will use the Al Hosn app as official proof of vaccinations and PCR results. Victor Besa / The National

Only people who are considered low-risk will be permitted to enter government department buildings and most public spaces. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE is recommending all residents get vaccinated against Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Booster shots can now be taken without prior appointment at any Seha vaccination centre, the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi has said. Victor Besa / The National

Mirza Zaib, from Pakistan, gets vaccinated at Biogenix Labs G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National

Nurse Dennise Docil prepares before administering the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Nurse Deboral Musthafa gets ready to administer the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fiji Antony receives her Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at the NMC Royal Hospital DIP. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE reported 1,249 new coronavirus cases and 977 recoveries on Sunday.

Officials said no one has died in the past 24 hours from complications.

The country has recorded 917,496 cases, 899,282 recoveries and 2,305 deaths since the first Covid-19 case was detected in the Emirates on January 29, 2020.

Widespread testing and tracing, stringent safety measures and a high vaccination rate have been credited for bringing down daily infections.

Cases dropped significantly since reaching close to 4,000 a day in January 2021, but have recently started to rise again.

An additional 244,931 tests were conducted over the 24-hour period, bringing the total number carried out since the beginning of the outbreak to more than 165 million.

Meanwhile, the latest research shows people who have had Covid-19 are more likely to develop diabetes, hypertension or spend time in hospital following their recovery.

Patients were more likely to seek care for the two chronic diseases in the year following the infection, a study by a health insurer found.

The risk of hospital time for any reason also increased by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, said South Africa's Discovery Health, which has about 3.7 million members.