Coronavirus: UAE announces 563 new Covid-19 cases

An employee at Dubai International Airport walks past a poster reminding passengers to keep a safe distance from each other, after the resumption of scheduled operations by Emirates on May 22. Karim Sahib / AFP

People wear face masks as they play football in the grassy area outside the closed Zabeel park in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Passengers of an Emirates flight prepare to board a plan to Sydney at Dubai International Airport. Karim Sahib / AFP

Workers wear face masks as they buy food from. asupermarket oin Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A man carries a sack of onions at Al Mina Vegetables and Fruits Market in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Al Wadha Mall in Abu Dhabi reopens with measures in place to protect shoppers. Victor Besa / The National

Al Wadha Mall in Abu Dhabi reopens with measures in place to protect shoppers. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors wear face masks while snowboarding at Ski Dubai, which reopened on May 27 along with cinemas, gyms and other entertainment venues. Mahmoud Khaled / EPA

Beach-goers lie on lounge chairs by the shoreline near Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai on May 20, as Covid-19 measures are eased. Karim Sahib / AFP

A Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel staff member waits to greet guests in Dubai as safety measures are eased. Karim Sahib / AFP

People eat at a restaurant in Dubai as measures begin to ease.However, precautions are still. inplace to protect diners. Karim Sahib / AFP

Stickers are placed along aisles at a supermarket in Dubai marking safe distances for shoppers to maintain to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. AFPo

Officers man Dubai Plice's Command and Control Centre amid the coronavirus outbreak. Karim Sahib / AFP

The UAE announced 563 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, taking the country's total number to 32,532.

The cases were identified after a further 38,000 tests were carried out across the country. More than 2 million Covid-19 tests have been conducted in the Emirates since the outbreak.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said 314 patients had recovered since Wednesday and three died. The figures bring the country's total to 16,685 recoveries and 258 deaths since the first cases were announced in late January.

This week, authorities said the increase in cases was due to non-compliance with physical distance measures.

"A large number of cases are due to mixing and gatherings … thus we stress all must avoid gatherings and to avoid crowded places," said Dr Amna Al Dhahak, spokeswoman for the health sector.

"The next phase requires awareness, precautions and responsibility. Today, we are all responsible."

The UAE has steadily begun easing restrictions to allow businesses to resume economic activities.

Dubai eased movement restrictions on Wednesday with the stay home order shortened to 11pm to 6am.

Under the more relaxed rules, up to half of staff at Dubai companies are allowed to return to their workplaces and cinema, gyms and entertainment centres including ice rinks have been reopened.

Non-essential medical services, such as routine trips to the dentist, are also now allowed.

Measures to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has infected almost 5.7 million and killed over 350,000 globally, began being implemented across the UAE in March.

Flights were suspended and the country's borders closed to everyone but Emiratis in an effort to slow the infection rate. Non-essential businesses were closed and employees were told to work from home whenever possible.

At one point, Dubai, which has a population of more than 3 million, had the strictest regulations with residents requiring an online permit from police to leave home to buy essentials from supermarkets and pharmacies.

This 24-hour stay home order lifted after authorities found residents and Emiratis to be compliant with safety measures.

On Thursday, authorities in Ras Al Khaimah said malls and public beaches could reopen.

Beauty salons and barbershops in the emirate will also resume operations with strict safety measures in place to protect customers from the spread of the virus.

But authorities have warned that the resumption of activities is not an indication that the pandemic is over.

"Each individual is responsible for their safety, the safety of their family and their surroundings by adhering to applying physical distancing, wearing face masks and also using PPE," said Dr Al Dhahak.

“Resuming business is very important … reopening does not mean lifting the precautionary measures, they are there to stay."