Coronavirus: UAE passes 5 million tests mark as 302 new cases recorded

Another 424 people have recovered from the virus while two more patients died

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The UAE has carried out more than five million Covid-19 tests since the outbreak began, official figures confirm.

The milestone was reached after another 55,257 daily tests were conducted.

Authorities recorded 302 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the country's total to 60,223.

A further 424 patients recovered from the virus over the past 24 hours, as the overall tally climbed to 53,626.

Two more patients died, pushing the country's death toll to 349.

The UAE has conducted abut three million tests in the past two months, after officials confirmed testing had hit the two million mark towards the end of May.

Data compiled by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority showed 5,021,627 tests had been conducted as of Thursday.

A mass screening strategy has been central to the UAE's efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

Large temporary screening centres have been set up in some areas, drive-through testing has been introduced and tens of thousands of the most vulnerable members of society have been tested at their homes.

A massive testing programme in one of the country’s most densely populated areas is complete, the Abu Dhabi government said.

A six-week campaign, which concluded on June 23, was carried out in Mussaffah, with about 570,000 residents tested for the virus.

In the door-to-door operation, 2,730 buildings were checked and 260 housing complexes disinfected.

Global cases passed 17.3 million on Thursday, with 672,000 deaths and almost 10.9 million recoveries, Worldometers data showed.