UAE records 1,769 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths

Infection rates have been on the rise in recent weeks

People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National

A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National

People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National

EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE reported 1,769 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, raising its overall tally to 944,022.

Another 1,674 people overcame the virus, as the recovery total climbed to 924,192.

There were two coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour reporting period, taking the toll to 2,315.

The latest cases were detected as a result of an additional 192,567 PCR tests.

More than 169.7 million tests have been conducted to date under a mass screening strategy.

The latest daily figures are the highest since February 6, when 2,015 infections were recorded.

Daily case numbers have been on the rise in recent weeks, having dropped to fewer than 200 in early May.

Authorities have called on the public to abide by key Covid-19 safety measures to help curb the spread of the virus.

While the wearing of masks outdoors is optional, the government has reminded the public of the need to use face coverings in indoor public settings such as malls.

Those caught flouting face mask rules face fines of Dh3,000 ($816).

More than 550 million cases have now been reported across the world since the virus broke out in late 2019.

More than 526 million recoveries have been confirmed, along with an estimated 6.3 million deaths.

The United States has recorded 89 million infections, the highest figure for a single country in the world and more than double that of second-placed India.