Coronavirus: UAE records 1,501 Covid-19 cases as 1,746 patients recover

Three people died, raising the country's death toll to 682

Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi reopened in August last year after a five-month closure. Victor Besa / The National

People fish using social distancing precautions by Business Bay Bridge in Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National

Volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trial wait to be screened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in August 2020. Victor Besa / The National

A man buys balloons at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. All shops and malls have safety measures in place to protect shoppers and staff. Victor Besa / The National

Shoppers maintain physical distancing and wear face masks at Al Wahda Mall. Victor Besa / The National

A shopper looks at face masks at Lulu Hypermarket, Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Volunteers for the Covid-19 vaccine trial wait to be screened at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in August 2020. Victor Besa / The National

A sign reminds people visiting The Pointe shopping centre on The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, to wear face masks. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai residents wear face masks during their evening walk in The Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National

Socially distanced maghrib prayers in Al Khair Masjid in Dubai in July 2020. Reem Mohammed / The National

Visitors to Al Wahda Mall wear face masks. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE recorded a fall in Covid-19 cases for a second day, as 1,501 infections were confirmed on Monday.

The latest cases brought the country's overall tally to 214,732.

Recoveries exceeded infections for the third day running as 1,746 patients were given the all-clear.

The country's number of recoveries now stands at 191,455.

The number of active cases nationwide dropped to 22,595.

Three more people died after contracting the virus, raising the death toll across the Emirates to 682.

The UAE reported record-high case figures for four consecutive days from December 30 to January 2, peaking at 1,963.

Infections fell to 1,590 on Sunday before a further reduction was reported on Monday.

Case figures have remained above 1,500 since December 29.

An additional 116,687 tests were carried out during the 24-hour reporting period.

The UAE has conducted close to 21.5 million tests since the outbreak began as part of a comprehensive screening strategy aimed at detecting infections quickly and helping to limit the spread of the pathogen.

Authorities have sought to balance safety measures with a gradual reopening of economic activity.

On Sunday, Abu Dhabi's Department of Economic Development announced licensed cafes and restaurants would be permitted to serve shisha for the first time in ten months in line with stringent Covid-19 safety measures.

On Monday, the economic body announced service industry workers in the capital would no longer have to get regular PCR tests once they take a Covid-19 vaccine.

The decision covers all employees in restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, bakeries, groceries, malls, commercial centres, butcheries, vegetable and fruit retailers.

Officials said any business that does not have a vaccinated workforce must continue to have staff screened for the virus every 14 days.

Those businesses must also cover the cost of the tests, which is about Dh85 per person in government-run screening centres.