• Hand sanitisers set up across the facilities at the Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Hand sanitisers set up across the facilities at the Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A father and his son enjoy a bike ride along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A father and his son enjoy a bike ride along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Abu Dhabi residents wait for their bus. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi residents wait for their bus. Victor Besa / The National
  • A Covid-19 sign along Reem Beach reminds residents exercising to be responsible. Victor Besa / The National
    A Covid-19 sign along Reem Beach reminds residents exercising to be responsible. Victor Besa / The National
  • Face masks on Union Coop’s shelves in Al Barsha Mall in Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
    Face masks on Union Coop’s shelves in Al Barsha Mall in Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
  • People wait in a queue to get tested for Covid-19 in City Walk. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People wait in a queue to get tested for Covid-19 in City Walk. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Cleaning staff disinfect the sitting area at the Towers Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zayed road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Cleaning staff disinfect the sitting area at the Towers Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zayed road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A man makes prayer beads in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty
    A man makes prayer beads in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty
  • A vendor arranges carpets in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty Images
    A vendor arranges carpets in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty Images
  • Tourists arrive at Dubai airport as the emirate reopened its doors to international visitors. AFP
    Tourists arrive at Dubai airport as the emirate reopened its doors to international visitors. AFP

Coronavirus: UAE records 473 new cases of Covid-19


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A total of 473 coronavirus cases were detected in the UAE on Friday as an additional 47,000 tests for the infection were conducted across the country.

The number of recoveries has risen to 43,969 after 399 patients overcame the virus, and two deaths were reported.

The total number of active cases in the Emirates now stands at 9,751.

On Thursday, that figure dipped to below 10,000 for the first time since April 30.

Since the outbreak, 54,050 have tested positive for Covid-19 and 330 people have died.

This week, the government announced it would carry out an additional two million PCR tests on residents over the next two months.

Government and service sector workers will be the focus of the accelerated testing drive, which was launched to ensure people hadn't turned complacent with the recent ease of restrictions.

Public transport workers, including taxi and bus drivers, would be among those targeted over the two-month period.

The announcement was made just a day before the UAE welcomed tourists into the country for the first time since the borders were closed in March.

In addition to a local testing drive, those arriving into the Emirates without documented proof of a PCR test carried out in their country of origin will be tested on arrival, free-of-charge.

To date, the UAE has carried out more than 3.5 million swab testing to control the spread of Covid-19 across the country.