Coronavirus: UAE identifies 351 new Covid-19 cases

Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche Hotel with updated Covid-19 precautionary measures. A distance sign at the check-in area of the hotel. Victor Besa / The National

Labourers working at one of the construction site during the sunset in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National)

A man wearing a protective mask is seen shopping in Ibn Batutta mall. Pawan Singh / The National

People wearing a protective face mask on the Abra in Dubai Creek in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Bus commuters at downtown Abu Dhabi heading home during rush hour. Victor Besa / The National

One of the guests at the Towers Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

The UAE reported 351 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday after carrying out 51,000 tests.

The new figures raise the country's total to 58,913. At least 554 patients recovered from the virus while one died.

Tallies for recoveries and deaths now stand at 52,182 and 344 respectively with 6,387 current active cases.

To date, almost 89 per cent of the UAE's total number of coronavirus cases have ended in recovery.

Last week, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said the spread of the virus had slowed significantly since the initial outbreak in the UAE.

The basic rate of reproduction, known as the R number, is the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus on to.

Authorities said that the UAE's R number had dropped to 0.74. A figure less than 1 per cent indicates fewer than 1 to 1 infection, indicating that the spread of the virus was coming under control.

If R equals 3, this means the number of infected people grows as powers of 3 – that is 9, 27, 81, 243 and so on – a rate of growth which can quickly engulf a nation.

To end the pandemic, R must be brought below 1.

Officials said the UAE's low number reflected the "efficiency of the health sector and its ability to reduce the rate of infection and ... break the chain of transmission."

They said the figure also indicated that the UAE's safety measures were effective.