Coronavirus: UAE reports 541 new cases - highest in 7 weeks

Covid-19 cases pass 500-mark for the second time after hitting 532 on July 9

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.

The UAE recorded a further 541 cases of Covid-19 on Monday, representing the highest number of daily infections in seven weeks.

The last time daily cases surpassed 500 was on July 9 when 532 infections were reported. The highest number of daily cases reported in the UAE since the outbreak was 994 on May 22.

Monday's cases were identified after conducting 82,763 tests.

Another 331 patients recovered from the disease, taking the countries tally to 60,931.

The number of infections recorded in the UAE since the outbreak now stands at 70,231.

Authorities announced that two Covid-19 patients died, adding to a death toll of 384.

The UAE has conducted more than 7 million tests since January in an attempt to detect, isolate and treat cases early and prevent its spread.

On Monday, children and the elderly were able to re-enter non-Muslim places of worship after months of being prevented to protect them from Covid-19.

Mosques, churches and temples were closed across the country in March to prevent the spread of the virus.

They were allowed to reopen on July 1 but children and older people were told they would be denied entry for their safety.

"In response to the places of worship requests and in respect of their religion, it was also decided to allow children to enter the places of worship to practice their religious rituals in a manner that does not conflict with the procedures and laws,” said Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, executive director of Community Engagement and Sport in the Department of Community Development.

The UAE also hit a milestone in its clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine this week.

On Sunday, authorities said more than 31,000 volunteers, from 120 different nationalities, had signed up and taken part in the Phase 3 trials.

Authorities had initially aimed for 15,000 volunteers to test the inactive vaccine, which contains a killed version of the virus.

Thousands of volunteers have already received their second inoculation and will continue to undergo regular monitoring and health checks, Wam reported.

All of those taking part generated antibodies to fight the disease, officials said.

The vaccine was developed by pharmaceutical company Sinopharm, based in China, where phases 1 and 2 of the trials were successfully conducted.

The UAE is involved through an agreement with technology company Group 42 and was chosen for the third phase for its population diversity.