Coronavirus: highest Covid-19 cases to date as UAE records 3,362 infections

Recent rise in cases thought to be because of increased travel over the winter break

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid receives the Sinopharm vaccine to protect against Covid-19 on November 3, 2020. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak receives the first of two shots of a vaccine that was trialled in the UAE. Wam

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Mansoor

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, gets the Sinopharm jab.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, receives the Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine on Saturday, October 31. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. Wam

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, takes the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, UAE Fatwa Council, is vaccinated with the Sinopharm innoculation on January 4, 2021. Wam

Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed, chair of Abu Dhabi's Executive Office, takes the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Media Office

The UAE's health minister, Abdulrahman Al Owais, receives the Sinopharm vaccine.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, gives a thumbs up as he is vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the UAE Football Association, receives the Covid-19 vaccine.

Khalifa bin Dary, executive director of Dubai Ambulance Services Corporation, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Lt Col Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad Al Nahyan, director of special patrols at Abu Dhabi Police, receives the Covid-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Police    

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Marri, director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Maj Gen Talal Al Falasi, director general of Dubai's State Security Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Amer Sharif, head of Dubai's Covid-10 Command and Control Centre, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, takes the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

Another 3,362 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UAE on Wednesday – exceeding the highest daily infection record set the day before.

The cases were detected after a further 134,768 tests were conducted across the country.

They raised the total number of infections to 239,587. Of these, 213,149 people have recovered after 2,588 more patients were declared free of the virus.

Health authorities announced that six patients died of complications related to the virus, taking the death toll to 723.

The number of active cases passed 25,000 for the first time since the outbreak with 25,715 people currently testing positive for Covid-19 across the Emirates.

In early November, active cases dropped to fewer than 2,000. The recent rise in cases is thought to be the result of increased travel over the winter break.

A nationwide vaccination campaign began in December with 1,364,580 doses administered since, placing the UAE second worldwide after Israel for immunisations.

At least 118,928 doses were administered over the past 24 hours, raising the rate of vaccination to 14.10 doses per 100 people.

As of Tuesday, 250,000 people had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the UAE after receiving both doses.

The goal is to immunise 50 per cent of the country's population by the end of the first quarter.

The Crown Prince of Fujairah, Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, was the latest UAE leader to receive his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. He thanked medical staff for their professionalism and dedication to protecting public health, state news agency Wam reported.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, each encouraged members of the public to get vaccinated.

“My message to everyone is to hasten to be vaccinated to protect our health, our economy and our achievements,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Their message was emphasised on Wednesday by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, who said participation in the nationwide vaccine drive would protect Emiratis and residents.

The minister, who is also head of the Covid-19 Crisis Recovery Management and Governance Committee, said widespread immunisation would help to accelerate the UAE's recovery from the effects of Covid-19 on the economy.

Vaccine demand has increased recently, with some clinics that offer inoculations saying they now have weeks-long waiting lists.

Several private medical centres told The National they are fully booked until March.

Call centres are receiving hundreds of enquiries each day and most medical facilities are referring calls to an online link for registration.

The Sinopharm vaccine is available at all private and government health clinics across the UAE, while the Pfizer-BioNTech shot can be administered at seven clinics in Dubai.