Coronavirus: UAE reports record-high 17 deaths

A further 3,310 infections are recorded as 3,368 patients recover

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at St Paul’s Church in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vaccine is administered at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen hospital

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

Airport personnel unload a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. AFP

An Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 unloads a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes also logistics giant DP World. Karim Sahib / AFP

People wait to enter a vaccination centre at Dubai's financial district on January 24, 2021. AFP

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

A teacher gives a thumbs up as he receives the Sinopharm vaccine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Department of Education and Knowledge

A placard informs the public of the location of a designated Covid-19 vaccination centre in Dubai's financial centre district. AFP

People in Dubai queue for a vaccine on January 24, 2021. AFP

The UAE announced a record-high 17 deaths among Covid-19 patients on Tuesday as daily case numbers once again rose above 3,000.

The fatalities took the country's death toll to 947.

The previous high of 14 was reported on Friday.

A further 3,310 cases were confirmed – the highest in six days – raising the overall tally to 332,603.

Another 3,368 patients were given the all-clear, taking the recovery total to 313,060.

The number of active cases in the country is 18,596.

The new infections were detected after another 165,796 tests were conducted in the UAE, an increase of more than 17,000 tests from the previous day.

More than 27 million DPI and PCR tests have been carried out since the detection of first cases in the country in January last year.

More than 4.4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered as part of a nationwide immunisation campaign.

Most residents in the UAE are receiving the Sinopharm vaccine, but limited doses of Sputnik V, Pfizer-BioNTech and the AstraZeneca are available.

The pace of vaccination in the UAE is second only to Israel, where 64% of the population is vaccinated, most of them with the Pfizer shot.

Israel has set a target of immunising 80 per cent of its 9 million citizens against coronavirus by May.

Dr Amer Sharif, head of Dubai’s Covid-19 command centre, said the goal was to vaccinate 50 per cent of the eligible population – which does not include children – by the end of March.

He said the longer-term plan is to hit 100 per cent in the final three months of 2021.

At present children under 16, pregnant or nursing mothers, or those with allergies are not allowed to receive the vaccine.

Some people with pre-existing conditions may need to seek the approval of the doctor before inoculation.

Vaccination centres in the UAE are prioritising the elderly and people with chronic diseases and Emiratis for the next six weeks.

People who do not fall into these categories can still receive the vaccine after booking an appointment.

Residents who have already received the first dose of a vaccine, should still receive their second as scheduled, within 28 days.

More than 4.5 million doses have been administered across the UAE since the vaccination drive began in December. At least 113,495 were administered over the past 24 hours, taking the vaccine rate to 45.77 per 100 people.

As Covid-19 cases continue to stabilise, Abu Dhabi will send thousands of students back into school on Sunday.

For pupils in years seven to nine, it will mark their first day in face-to-face classes since March.

Last week, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge said 15,000 school employees – about 60 per cent of the staff – received the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine during a voluntary drive held before the reopening.