Coronavirus: UAE records 462 new cases as total of recoveries passes 3,000

A further nine people have died after contracting the virus, while another 28,000 tests have been carried out

Iraqi soldiers guard a street, enforcing a curfew imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, during the month of Ramadan, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

A boy dives as youths cool off by the water at a beach off the Mediterranean coast of Libya's capital Tripoli, despite a lockdown against coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Kuwaiti nationals arrive at the Kuwait International Airport, south of the capital Kuwait City, after a repatriation plan for citizens stranded abroad was put together by the authorities, during the novel coronavirus crisis. AFP

Employees work at the Saudi National Health Emergency Operations Centre in capital Riyadh, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP

An employee works at the Saudi National Health Emergency Operations Centre in Riyadh, during the novel coronavirus crisis. AFP

People walk and exercise at Beirut's seaside promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea amid the coronavirus pandemic in Beirut, Lebanon. Taking advantage of warm spring weather, people who have been under lockdown for weeks headed to the corniche a day before the government eased coronavirus restrictions on Monday. AP Photo

A man welcomes his friend after weeks of a national lockdown in Lebanon to curb the spread of the coronavirus as he plays paddleball at Beirut's seaside promenade, along the Mediterranean Sea. AP Photo

Men ride horses in the Mediterranean Sea waters near the port of Libya's capital Tripoli, as they cool off in the hot weather despite a lockdown to tackle coronavirus pandemic. AFP

An Iraqi woman wearing a protective face mask, drives past a checkpoint amid the coronavirus, during the month of Ramadan, in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

People gather near trucks after the border between Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran partially reopened for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus, at the border in Iraq's Halabja Province. Reuters

Sanitary workers prepare to perform a fumigation in an area in Yemen's southern coastal city of Aden, as part of a campaign to prevent insect-borne diseases amid the Covid-19 pandemic. AFP

A sanitary worker performs a fumigation in an area in Yemen's southern coastal city of Aden as part of a campaign to prevent insect-borne diseases amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

The UAE announced 462 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, pushing the country's total of infections to 15,192.

Health officials confirmed a further nine people had died after contracting Covid-19 as the death toll linked to the virus climbed to 146.

Another 187 people have beaten the disease, bringing the country's growing tally of recoveries to 3,153.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said a further 28,000 tests for the virus had been conducted during the reporting period.

Health officials have made mass testing a focal point of their campaign to contain the virus.

Well over a million tests have been conducted in the country.

The new recorded cases was a significant drop on the 567 positive tests announced on Monday.

As of Tuesday, more than 3.6 million people had contracted Covid-19 across the globe.

The worldwide death toll has risen beyond 250,000, while more than 1.2 million people have recovered.

Months on from the initial outbreak, governments all over the world are continuing to grapple with the virus.

The widespread suspension of air travel has left tens of thousands of people stranded far from home, while the economic knock-on effect of the virus has impacted livelihoods.

As part of ongoing efforts to address difficulties prompted by the pandemic, India is to launch a major air and sea mission to bring thousands of its citizens home from many countries, including the UAE.

The government said embassies were preparing priority lists ahead of the operation's launch on Thursday, May 7.

Officials will draw up a list of "distressed Indian citizens" including tourists stranded overseas and expat workers who have lost their jobs.

From May 7-14, about 60 commercial flights are set to bring 15,000 citizens from 12 countries home, according to Indian media. Half are expected to be operated from the Gulf.