Coronavirus: UAE records 2,172 new infections

The Ministry of Health and Prevention conducts 209,079 tests

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The UAE on Tuesday recorded 2,172 new cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of cases to 444,398.

Authorities also recorded six deaths, taking the total to 1,451.

Another 2,348 individuals recovered from the virus, with 427,188 people now declared clear of it since the pandemic began.

It came after the Ministry of Health and Prevention conducted 209,079 tests with about 35.78 million tests carried out in total.

Active cases stand at 15,759.

New coronavirus infections have hovered around 2,000 for several days, continuing an encouraging trend of declining numbers.

Infections have fallen substantially since January, when daily cases edged towards the 4,000 mark.

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

Authorities last week said they had vaccinated half the country’s population, two weeks before its target date of the end of March.

The UAE on Sunday also said it was expanding efforts to inoculate all residents against Covid-19 by urging people still waiting for the vaccine to book appointments immediately.

The ministry opened additional appointment slots for all residents across the Emirates.

In Dubai, any resident over the age of 16 can now schedule their first or second dose of the shot at one of the participating centres in the city.

Inoculation centres operated by Dubai Health Authority are still accepting appointments on a priority basis. Slots are available for the elderly, frontline workers, people with chronic illnesses and over-forties.

In the capital, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, known as Seha, is administering first and second doses of the vaccine to all residents over the age of 16, at tents and clinics throughout the city.