Coronavirus: UAE records 2,101 new infections and 10 deaths

More than 2,600 people were given the all-clear on Thursday

A Dubai ambulance worker is vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in Dubai.

An older resident receives her first shot at Zabeel Health Centre on December 27, 2020.

The vaccine is expected to be rolled out to all age groups once people in the essential categories have been vaccinated.

A nurse holds a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved for use by Dubai's emergency and crisis authority and the federal Ministry of Health.

An employee from Roads and Transport Authority receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Dubai.

A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

The city has six vaccine centres where the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is available.

A man waits to receive the first of two doses at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A vial of the vaccine is seen at Barsha Health Centre. AFP

A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at al-Barsha Health Centre in Dubai. AFP

The UAE recorded 2,101 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday.

The latest cases brought the overall tally of infections to 434,465.

A further 2,628 people recovered, raising the total to 416,105.

The death toll in the Emirates is 1,424 after a further 10 people died.

The number of active cases fell to 16,936 after recoveries exceeded new infections for a fifth consecutive day.

An additional 198,328 Covid-19 tests were carried out during the 24-hour period.

More than 34.6 million tests have been conducted since the outbreak began.

Case numbers have reduced significantly since late January, when close to 4,000 infections were recorded most days.

The reduction coincided with one of the fastest vaccination programmes in the world.

The UAE on Tuesday said it had achieved its target of vaccinating half the country’s population – two weeks before its target date.

Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, said at the weekly Covid-19 briefing that 52.46 per cent of the UAE’s population had been immunised.