Coronavirus: UAE reports 2,180 new cases and three deaths

Sulaiman Kalathul gets vaccinated at the Biogenix Labs at G42 in Masdar City. Victor Besa / The National

The UAE reported 2,180 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday. There were 2,321 recoveries.

Active cases fell to 14,326 as recoveries again outpaced new infections.

The number of infections recorded since the pandemic began reached 465,939 and the number of patients who have beaten the virus increased to 450,111.

Officials reported three deaths, as the toll rose to 1,502.

Another 244,357 tests were conducted over a 24-hour period. More than 38 million tests have been carried out nationwide since the outbreak began.

On Friday, health officials announced an additional 100,080 vaccine doses had been administered, raising the total to 8,491,382.

This equates to 85.85 doses for every 100 people.

The UAE's Fatwa Council said on Thursday that taking the Covid-19 vaccine "does not invalidate fasting".

The council, chaired by Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, said inoculation was permitted in Islam.

During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to dusk – between fajr and maghrib prayers .

Covid-19 cases surge in India

Meanwhile, India's health ministry reported 81,466 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, the highest daily number in six months.

Several states were hit heavily by a second wave of the coronavirus, including Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Maharashtra, the western state that has been worst hit by Covid-19 so far, reported 43,183 new cases on Friday – its highest since the pandemic spread to India in March 2020.

Officials in the state imposed a night curfew for the weekend but were considering stricter control measures, including shutting down religious places and restricting train travel.

The total number of cases stood at 12.3 million, making India the country third most affected by the virus after the US and Brazil. The death toll rose by 469 to 163,396.

The vaccination drive started on January 16 this year and the programme intensified in recent weeks.

Elsewhere, a senior World Health Organisation official described Europe's immunisation campaign against Covid-19 as “unacceptably slow”.

Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, said this could prolong the pandemic.

So far, only 10 per cent of Europe’s population had received a dose and only 4 per cent had been fully protected with two doses.

In pictures: Covid-19 around the world

People enter Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park on the first day of opening, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Valencia, California, U.S. REUTERS

People ride a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park on the first day of opening, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Valencia, California, U.S. REUTERS

Maritza, who spent time in the hospital with the coronavirus disease COVID-19 and when she was released was locked out of her apartment by fearful roommates, stands in the new room she is renting in an apartment in Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S. After Maritza lost all her belongings along with her housing, La Colaborativa provided temporary housing, helped her replace her clothes and furniture, and helped her move in to a new rental room in an apartment. REUTERS

A community vaccination clinic administering doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine inside the Viejas Arena on the campus of San Diego State University in San Diego, California, U.S. Starting April 1, Californians ages 50 and older are eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Bloomberg

The otherwise busy Am Plan market square in Koblenz's old town is deserted in Koblenz, Germany. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a general curfew in Koblenz in the evenings from 10 p.m. AP

A woman walks as police use a water cannon during clashes in the Bois de la Cambre park in Brussels. Belgian police have clashed with a large crowd in one of Brussels' largest parks, as thousands of revellers had gathered for an unauthorized event despite coronavirus restrictions. AP Photo

Parisians and homeless gather in front of Paris city hall, one hour after the 19h00 curfew, in Paris. France's prime minister Jean Castex on Thursday defended new nationwide measures to combat a resurgent coronavirus in France that include closing schools for at least three weeks and putting in place a month-long domestic travel ban, the government has acted "consistently and pragmatically". AP Photo

A woman wearing traditional 'mantillas' attend a mass at Collegiate church of San Isidore in downtown Madrid, Spain. For a second year running, Spain has had to cancel Easter Week processions to help stop the spread of COVID-19. AP Photo

A garbage collector wearing a mask to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, pulls his cart in Ankara, Turkey. The number of confirmed daily COVID-19 infections in Turkey surpassed 40,000 on Thursday, hitting a record-high for a third straight day. The Health Ministry reported 40,806 new cases in past 24 hours, the highest since the start of the outbreak. It also reported 176 deaths, pushing the fatality toll to 31,713. AP Photo

A general view as a runner is led through the tunnel from the stables to the track at Chelmsford City Racecourse in Chelmsford, England. Sporting venues around the UK remain under restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Only owners are allowed to attend the meeting but the public must wait until further restrictions are lifted. Getty Images

People pray at Mother Teresa's Mother House that is closed on Good Friday during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in Kolkata, eastern India. Good Friday is a religious holiday observed by Christians in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. EPA

Pakistani senior citizens reacts after he receives a dose of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19 during the second phase of Pakistan's coronavirus vaccination drive in Peshawar, Pakistan. The Pakistan government tightened restrictions on 29 March, amid a fresh Covid-19 wave that is turning out to be worse than the previous two in a country battling an inordinate delay in anti-coronavirus vaccines. EPA

Buddhist monks wait to receive a dose of China's Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand. REUTERS

Face masks with dogs and cats illustrations are displayed at the 'Interpets' international pet fair in Tokyo, Japan. As the coronavirus pandemic is limiting access from abroad, some 300 exhibitors based in Japan will present their products to business visitors and pet lovers until 04 April at the event, which is the largest international trade fair in the Japanese pet market. With the COVID-19 pandemic, pets are giving comfort to people who are spending more time home due to lockdowns and telework, boosting the pet products market. EPA

A woman wearing a face mask to help protect against COVID-19 walks through an office and shopping complex on a rainy day in Beijing. A Chinese border city hit by a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 this week began a five-day drive Friday to vaccinate its entire population of 300,000 people. AP Photo