Coronavirus: UAE records highest number of new Covid-19 cases since May

Officials confirm 883 cases, matching the highest daily infections recorded since May 27

A model of a transformer robot wears a mask and carries a sign saying 'Stay home' outside a shop in Ras Al Khaimah. All photos by Chris Whiteoak / The National

A cleaner disinfects different surfaces at the H Hotel in Dubai.

Tailor Zeeshan Javed makes a pair of trousers in his workshop with protection measures in place.

A lifeguard watches over the pool at the H Hotel in Dubai.

An employee at Century Financial in Dubai sterilises a conference room.

A manager at Stone Grey, a tailoring business, rearranges dresses.

A hotel receptionist works behind a plastic partition at the H Hotel in Dubai.

Two colleagues keep a safe distance at Century Financial in Dubai.

Motorists get laser based DPI tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai.

Motorists get laser based DPI tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai.

Motorists get laser based DPI tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai.

Another 883 new cases of Covid-19 were identified across the UAE on Wednesday – the highest number of daily infections since May 27.

The latest cases were detected after 86,917 additional tests, raising the infections tally to 75,981.

Authorities said 416 people recovered from the virus, adding to a tally of 67,359.

Two patients died during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 393.

The number of active cases across the Emirates now stands at 8,229.

Daily figures dropped as low as 164 in early August but have steadily been climbing since. The highest number of daily cases reported in the Emirates since the outbreak was 994 on May 22. A total of 883 cases were confirmed five days later on May 27.

The UAE is among the top countries for Covid-19 testing per capita, having carried out almost 7.8 million tests since January.

On Tuesday, authorities renewed their warning against social gatherings after a Covid-19 carrier's "reckless behaviour" resulted in 45 others being infected.

The man displayed symptoms but did not report his condition to health officials, said Dr Omar Al Hammadi, the federal government's spokesman said at the regular media briefing.

The man infected his wife and 44 others from three families after socialising with them.

One of the man's relatives, aged 90, had underlying health conditions and died of complications after being admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital, Dr Al Hammadi said.

“The reckless behaviour of such individuals is the reason for setbacks. Everyone is responsible. We should follow all precautionary measures and avoid gatherings that can put us and the community at risk."