Coronavirus: UAE announces 796 new cases

Officials also recorded 603 new recoveries and more than 35,000 additional tests

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  Syrian Muslims wearing face masks listen to the Friday prayer sermon at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, following the authorities' decision to allow prayers on Fridays in disinfected mosques with strict social distancing and protection measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. President Bashar al-Assad warned earlier this month of a "catastrophe" in war-battered Syria if the easing of lockdown measures against coronavirus is mishandled. AFP

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  Shi'ite Muslims visit the Imam Ali shrine during the holy month of Ramadan, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. REUTERS

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  People observe social distancing on a metro carriage in Istanbul, a few hours before the weekend lockdown because of the coronavirus. Teenagers were able to leave their homes for the first time in 42 days on Friday, as their turn came for a few hours of respite from Turkey's coronavirus lockdowns. Turkey has subjected people aged 65 and over and those younger than 20, to a curfew for the past several weeks. AP Photo

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  People walk on Istiklal street, the main shopping street in Istanbul, a few hours before the weekend lockdown due to the coronavirus. Teenagers were able to leave their homes for the first time in 42 days on Friday, as their turn came for a few hours of respite from Turkey's coronavirus lockdowns. Turkey has subjected people aged 65 and over and those younger than 20, to a curfew for the past several weeks. AP Photo

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  A fighter loyal to Yemen's Huthi rebels acting as security, looks on while wearing a face mask and latex gloves and slinging a Kalashnikov assault rifle as volunteers part of a community-led initiative to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus disease gather in Yemen's capital Sanaa. AFP

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  Algerian Food Bank volunteers, wearing face masks due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, prepare packages of food aid as part of the "SOLIRAM" solidarity campaign to assist families in need during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the "20 August" (20 Aout 1955) Stadium in the capital Algiers. AFP

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  A Palestinian refugee elderly woman, who witnessed the 1948 Nakba, looks out of her house's entrance door at Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, as Palestinians marked the 72nd anniversary of "Nakba" (Day of Catastrophe) inside their homes due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The "Nakba" commemorates the mass displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. AFP

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  A sign reminds customers to stay at a safe distance from each other at a bakery in the nearly deserted Hayat mall in the Saudi capital Riyadh, after the lockdown measures due to the novel coronavirus were partially eased by the authorities. AFP

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  People gather to buy hot sugar drenched 'bomboloni' donut, in the village of Sidi Bou Said near Tunis, Tunisia. After four days in Tunisia without COVID-19 infections, the Tunisian government has decided to ease the curfew from 11 pm to five am. This decision prompted people to leave their homes after breaking their fast. This is the case here in Sidi Bou Saïd, the Tunisians took advantage of the open donut shops to taste this typical pastry from the city. EPA

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  Several people show their passports at the Beni-Enzar border crossing in Melilla, Spain. Some 200 Moroccans have been able to return to their country this Friday after being trapped in Melilla for two months by the border closure that the Alawite authorities decreed on March 13 as a result of the coronavirus health crisis. EPA

Latest: UAE confirms 731 new cases on Sunday

UAE officials announced a further 796 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the country’s total to 22,627.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention also said it had conducted an additional 35,735 tests in the Emirates.

The figures showed that over the last 24 hours, 603 patients had recovered from the virus while four had died. To date, the UAE has recorded 7,931 recoveries and 214 fatalities.

As of May 16, 4.5 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded globally, with 1.7m recoveries and more than 309,000 deaths, according to data analyst firm Worldometer.

During a press conference late on Saturday, UAE government officials said they were advising all residents to avoid big family gatherings and visits from relatives over Eid.

"We are aware of the importance of meeting with family during Eid ... let us give up a little of these customs and traditions this year," said Dr Amna Al Shamsi.

"We have no excuse to neglect the precautionary measures of physical distancing and the avoidance of gatherings.

"We urge the public to continue to follow health practices and abide by the measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

Earlier this weekend, officials in Abu Dhabi released a set of new guidelines to ensure the safe return of employees planning to head back to their places of work across the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development said the aim was to “promote business continuity” for private companies while ensuring the “health and safety of employees”.

Individuals who can continue to work effectively from home are encouraged to stay put for the time being.

But others whose jobs require them to be in offices or retail outlets can return, provided firms adhere to a series of measures designed to protect their health.

The ADDED said staff between the ages of 18 to 55 could return to work provided they did not suffer from any underlying health issues or live with anyone who did.

It also said that employers operating in the retail sector with more than 30 employees on site should install thermal cameras at shop entrances.

Staff must wear protective clothing and reduce contact with customers and colleagues. Transactions should done from behind a plastic or glass barrier via electronic payment methods.

Meanwhile on Saturday, dozens of pregnant women were repatriated safely home to India on a flight from Dubai.

The aircraft, destined for Kochi in the southwest coastal state of Kerala, took off with 181 passengers on board.

The 75 mums-to-be on the flight were accompanied by medical staff who were on hand to offer assistance if required.

The three-and-a-half hour flight is part of continuing efforts to ensure any Indian in the UAE wanting to return home because of coronavirus can do so.

“Today’s flight IX434 to Kochi is very different as it carries many pregnant women, 35 medical cases, senior citizens and a few who lost near-ones back in India,” said a tweet posted by the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Italy's government announced it would allow travel to and from the country from June 3.

The decision marks a major easing in the country's Covid-19 lockdown measures, following more than two months of restrictions.

Italy has recorded one of the highest fatality rates in the world - at more than 31,600 people - but figures show the number of infection has dropped sharply over recent days.