Coronavirus: UAE announces record 3,432 Covid-19 cases

A further 3,118 patients recovered and seven people died

A sign at a public beach in Dubai urging people to follow Covid-19 distancing rules. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Participants seated adhering to social-distancing rules during an event at Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee brings drinks to customers at Cafe Society in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee disinfects a table before welcoming customers in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee checks a customer's temperature at Cafe Society in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors to Reform Athletica yoga studio in Dubai perform their exercises with their masks on. Chris Whiteoak / The National

An employee waits to measure customers' temperatures at Cafe Society in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A cordoned off swing along the Abu Dhabi corniche amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

A signboard on Covid-19 precautionary measures at Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE reported a record number of Covid-19 cases for the fifth day running as 3,432 infections were confirmed on Saturday.

The latest rise in cases brought the country's total to 249,808.

A further 3,118 patients overcame the virus as the recovery tally climbed to 222,106.

Seven more people died after contracting Covid-19 as the country's death toll rose to 740.

An additional 151,096 tests were carried out during the 24-hour reporting period.

More than 23.2 million tests have been conducted nationwide since the outbreak began.

The number of active cases across the Emirates rose to 26,962.

Daily infection rates have more than doubled during the course of the month.

On January 3, the UAE recorded 1,590 Covid-19 cases, with this number falling to 1,501 the following day.

Case numbers topped 3,000 for the first time on January 12, when 3,243 infections were announced, and have risen steadily since.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have taken steps to safeguard public health amid the Covid-19 spike by confirming public and private schools would continue distance learning for the next three weeks of term.

Pupils were due to return to in-person classes on January 3, only for the The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee to approve remote learning for the first two weeks of the new term to limit the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, officials further extended the period of distance learning to "protect the health and safety of the schooling community".