Coronavirus: UAE reports 490 new cases and three deaths

Eighty-three more recoveries as the Emirates carries out 30,000 more tests

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The UAE reported 490 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday after carrying out a further 30,000 tests.

Three more people have died from the disease and 83 patients made a full recovery.

The total number of cases in the Emirates now stands at 7,775, with 46 deaths. Total recoveries stand at 1,443.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the three patients to have died all came from Asian countries and had existing chronic illnesses.

The UAE has announced 1,453 coronavirus cases so far this week.

The spike in case numbers in recent weeks has coincided with efforts to ramp up testing across the Emirates.

 

The UAE has conducted more than 800,000 tests as part of a widespread effort to stem the spread of Covid-19.

As well as opening more than a dozen drive-through testing centres across the country, the UAE has also approved plans for home testing for people with disabilities.

Field hospitals have been set up in Dubai and Ajman to treat rising numbers of patients.

In Abu Dhabi, plans are being drawn up to draft in private sector doctors and nurses to help the country combat the pandemic.

Dr Farida Al Hosani, spokeswoman for the UAE health sector, said on Monday that patients in the country are tested at least twice before being discharged from hospital to ensure they are free of the virus.

The number of Covid-19 cases globally has now topped 2.5 million.

More than 171,000 people who contracted the virus have died, while the number of recoveries has crossed 658,000.