Coronavirus: UAE records 1,161 infections as active cases fall below 2,000

A further 1,493 patients recovered from the virus, while two patients died

People walk around in the Al Karama area of Dubai as life in the UAE beings to resemble pre-pandemic times. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

The country has got to grips with curbing the spread of Covid-19.

The UAE registered its lowest daily tally of new Covid-19 infections in 20 months.

More than 100 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in the UAE to date.

People wearing masks are out shopping in the Al Karama area of Dubai.

The UAE's extensive vaccination campaign has been widely credited with helping to drive down case numbers.

New daily cases have remained below 100 for five weeks.

Authorities confirmed last week that 100 per cent of the eligible population had now received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.

More than 90 per cent of the UAE population are fully vaccinated.

A masked worker pushes a trolley laden with water bottles in the Al Karama area of Dubai.

Social distancing stickers pasted at a bus stop serve as a warning to travellers in Dubai.

People shopping in the Al Karama area of Dubai.

The UAE recorded 1,161 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, raising its total to 137,310.

A further 1,493 patients were given the all-clear as the recovery tally climbed to 134,983.

Two more patients died after contracting the virus, moving the death toll in the Emirates to 505.

The latest cases were identified following an additional 116,083 daily tests.

More than 13.5 million tests have been conducted since the outbreak began.

Mass screening of the public remains an integral part of the UAE's strategy to limit the spread of the virus.

The number of active cases fell to 1,822, thanks to an ongoing trend of daily recoveries exceeding new infections.

Recovery figures have remained above 1,000 each day for more than five weeks.

As well as seeking to limit infection rates across the Emirates, the UAE has also played a significant role in the development of a vaccine to guard against the pathogen.

Abu Dhabi’s police chief has spoken of his pride after being immunised against Covid-19.

Abu Dhabi Police chief, Maj Gen Maktoum Al Sharifi and fellow department heads at the force became the latest officials in the country to take China’s Sinopharm vaccine.

“Abu Dhabi Police believes in the importance of collective efforts spent in protecting our society from all risks. It is a national responsibility,” he said.

The country hosted a Phase-3 trial which involved 31,000 volunteers in the Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan.

The jab has since been administered to frontline medical workers, senior officials and some members of the Cabinet, after it received approval from the UAE Government in September for limited use.

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced he had been vaccinated.

Global infections approached 48 million on Wednesday, with more than 1.2 million deaths recorded.

Close to 34.5 million people have recovered from infection.