Coronavirus: UAE reports 721 new cases

One person died from complications of the virus in the past 24 hours

Lab staff working in the sample preparation room at Dubai Airport (DXB). All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

Close to Terminal 2, the laboratory is a dedicated centre for around-the-clock processing of RT-PCR test samples collected from passengers at DXB.

Lab staff working in Dubai Airport's in-house lab for processing Covid-19 PCR tests.

One of the world’s busiest airports now has one of the world’s biggest in-house Covid-19 testing laboratories.

The laboratory reduces waiting times for passengers arriving by making sure their PCR test results are delivered in only four to six hours.

Before the lab opened in June, the passengers’ samples were collected from the airport every 12 hours.

Now samples are collected every 30 minutes and transported to the in-house facility operated by Pure Health.

Carlo Kaabar, medical director of Mohap Laboratories, at Dubai Airport's in-house PCR lab.

After a batch of samples is received, the staff first check their integrity and verify the passengers’ details using barcodes.

Dubai Airport's in-house lab for processing Covid-19 PCR tests.

If passengers test positive, they need to undergo isolation and follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines.

Lab staff scanning the barcode of a Covid-19 PCR sample.

The UAE reported 721 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday after an additional 224,482 tests were carried out.

The new cases bring the country's overall tally of infections to 1,007,039.

One person died as a result of the virus, taking the death toll to 2,340.

Recoveries reached 985,429 after another 631 people overcame the virus in the past 24 hours.

Nearly 181 million tests have been conducted since the start of the outbreak under a mass screening strategy aimed at limiting community transmission.

Case numbers have steadily declined since a surge in infection rates in June, topping 1,800 on July 3.

Authorities have urged the public to remain committed to Covid-19 safety measures, such as wearing masks when in indoor public settings and to follow isolation rules if infected.