Coronavirus: UAE announces 731 new cases

Officials also recorded 581 new recoveries and more than 40,000 additional tests

People walk in the almost-deserted Istiklal street at Taksim district in Istanbul during a four-day curfew to prevent the spread of Covid-19. AFP

A man swims at the beach during lockdown in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

Tunisians spend time at the beach in La Marsa, on the outskirts of the capital Tunis, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP

A man walks in the deserted Eminonu square in Istanbul, during a four-day curfew. AFP

A pharmacist talks to a girl through a plastic barrier in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters

Deserted shops near historical spice bazaar at Eminonu district in Istanbul, during a four-day curfew. AFP

Exterior view of the Hotel Riviera Beirut at the beach during lockdown in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA

People gather on a beach in the Lebanese coastal village of Safra despite a four-day nationwide lockdown. AFP

UAE officials announced a further 731 cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the country’s total to 23,358.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention also said it had conducted an additional 40,000 tests in the Emirates.

The figures showed that over the previous 24 hours, 581 patients had recovered from the virus while six had died. To date, the UAE has recorded 8,512 recoveries and 220 deaths.

As of May 17, 4.7 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded globally, with 1.8 million recoveries and more than 313,000 deaths, according to data analysis company Worldometer.

"The intensification of examination procedures at the state level helped in the detection of 731 new cases of coronavirus emerging from different nationalities, all of which are [in a] stable [condition]," a statement from state news agency Wam said.

Earlier on Sunday, it emerged that dozens of parks in Dubai are set to reopen on Monday.

The emirate closed all public open spaces in the middle of March to contain the spread of Covid-19 but since then officials have announced that they planned to restore full park services soon.

The parks will be reopened in “gradual and successive phases” to ensure public health continues to be protected.

Authorities said 70 neighbourhood parks would welcome visitors from Monday, followed by Mushrif, Al Mamzar, Al Khor, Zabeel and Al Safa parks in the last phase of the reopening scheme on May 25.