Coronavirus: UAE records 1,843 new cases

More than 1,500 people recover from the virus

A man receives Covid-19 vaccine at the MBRU a community mobile health clinic near the Al Waha Community on Nad Al Hamar Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Three-year-old Omar Al Mulla gets his saliva tested at the Biogenix lab at G42 in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Healthcare workers get sprayed with disinfectants after conducting free PCR test in downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A sign asking customers to wear mask is seen in a tailor shop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A hand sanitizer is placed at the newly opened Al Zahia City Centre in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Seats are blocked inside the family cinema at Al Zahia City Centre in Sharjah. Pawan Singh / The National

Floor signage for social distancing is seen at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pedestrians cross the street in Abu Dhabi on a hazy afternoon. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters get on a bus at Hamdan St. in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A man wearing a face mask passes by a store in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A stoke keeper arranges the flowers at a Hindu flower shop in Bur Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National

Staff prepare filter coffee at the One Degree Café in Margham area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A woman walks on the beach on a hazy sandy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The UAE recorded 1,843 new coronavirus cases on Friday, taking the country’s overall tally to 493,266.

Another 1,506 people recovered from the virus, taking total recoveries to 476,518.

Two more people died from complications caused by Covid-19, raising the death toll to 1,547. Active cases stand at 15,201.

The new cases came after authorities conducted 198,135 tests.

New infections have hovered about or under 2,000 for several days, having declined significantly since January.

Widespread testing and one of the world's fastest vaccination programmes are integral to UAE efforts to curb the pandemic.

Authorities on Friday said 102,340 vaccine doses were given in the last 24 hours, to reach 9.48 million total doses. This represents 95.95 doses per 100 people.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Pfizer said people will probably need a third dose of his company's Covid-19 vaccine within a year of being fully vaccinated.

Albert Bourla also said annual vaccinations against the coronavirus may be required.

"We need to see what would be the sequence and for how often we need to do that, that remains to be seen," Mr Bourla told CNBC.

"A likely scenario is that there will be a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months, and then from there there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed," he said.