Coronavirus: UAE reports 513 new Covid-19 cases as 2,443 recover

UAE records highest daily recovery figure since the outbreak

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  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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The UAE reported 513 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, adding to a total of 73,984 infections.

Another 2,443 patients recovered, taking the tally to 66,095. It was the highest daily recovery figure reported since the outbreak.

No deaths were reported, leaving the toll at 388.

Sunday’s new cases were detected after 87,336 tests were carried out. The UAE has conducted almost 7.6 million tests since January.

Currently, 7,501 people are battling the virus across the Emirates.

The number of new cases has been increasing since August 3, when the country recorded 164 infections. It was the lowest daily number of new cases since April 1, when 150 were identified.

However, the steepest increase occurred last week, with 541 cases on August 31 rising to 735 cases by September 2.

Authorities told the public not to panic about the recent surge in cases.

"We demonstrated in the early stages of the pandemic that when all of us as a community apply these precautionary measures, we sail through it with flying colours," Dr Anwar Sallam, chief medical officer of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha), told The National.

“I would highly advocate that we first of all not panic or be scared that the numbers are increasing, but rather look back and revisit to what extent we are adhering to those precautionary measures.”

Officials said social gatherings and a lack of adherence to personal safety measures are both contributing to the rise in cases.

Last month, authorities said they were considering reinstating the nightly national disinfection campaign, in which a stay-home order was enforced between 8pm and 6am, while public areas were sprayed with sanitiser.

Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, said the scheme could return to specific areas where cases are rising, rather than across the whole country.

“It is a chain. If we could break this chain, we would go back to the previous phase where there were fewer cases and more recoveries,” he told Al Emarat TV.

Asked directly whether a rise in the number of daily infections could prompt the return of the nightly national disinfection programme, Dr Al Dhaheri said: “Yes. If we found that the number of cases is increasing in a specific area, we could.

“We are ready for any scenario. If there came a reason for taking any further measures, we would not hesitate to do so.”

The disinfection drive began in March and was lifted in late June. During the campaign, residents and Emiratis could only leave home during in cases of necessity and all shops, except supermarkets and pharmacies, were closed.

“Today we say these figures are a result of complacency among the public, rather than a phenomenon that is widespread across the country,” Dr Al Dhaheri said.