Coronavirus: UAE hits two million test mark

Country also passed the 30,000-case mark after huge public testing campaign

Widespread testing, social distancing and restrictions on movement have all been crucial to bringing the outbreak under control. Karim Sahib / AFP

Related: Dubai to push back nightly restrictions from 8pm to 11pm - and open cinemas and gyms

The UAE has carried out more than two million tests since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, officials said on Monday night.

They also confirmed 822 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the country’s total to 30,307.

Three people who had tested positive died because of complications, taking the death toll to 248.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention conducted 41,202 tests nationwide in the past day, taking the total to 2,044,493.

In the past 24 hours, another 601 patients recovered from the virus. To date, the UAE has had 15,657 recoveries.

The UAE has imposed strict measures to contain the outbreak, which included urging families to celebrate Eid at home and keeping mosques closed.

“There is a new reality that has been imposed on us in the way we treat each other and communicate, even within the same family,” said Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

“It is a different Eid for all the families who had to stay home and avoid gatherings.

"It’s been different for doctors and volunteers, paramedics, nurses, sterilisation teams ... all are heroes.

"Our frontline healthcare providers are spending Eid at hospitals across the country, caring for Covid-19 patients and testing hundreds of cases.

"We highly appreciate their relentless efforts."