Coronavirus: UAE reports record high 18 Covid-19 deaths

Active cases dropped by almost 200 to 18,906 as recoveries exceeded new infections again

Families walk in Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi private school staff wait to be vaccinated against Covid-19 as part of a drive organised by Adek. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge

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

A coronavirus vaccine shipment is unloaded from an Emirates aircraft at Dubai International Airport on February 1. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which also includes logistics giant DP World. AFP

A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A woman waits for her turn at a vaccination centre at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A man is registered before receiving a dose of vaccine at a centre in Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

A health worker checks a man's temperature before he receives a dose of vaccine. AFP

A commuter wears a face mask while travelling on the Dubai Metro. AP

The UAE reported the highest number of daily Covid-19 deaths to date, for the second time this week, with 18 patients succumbing to the virus.

Thursday's deaths raised the national death toll to 974 – 86 people died in the past seven days.

Another 3,525 cases of the virus were recorded, raising the tally to 339,667.

Health authorities said 3,734 patients were cleared of the coronavirus, increasing recoveries to 319,787.

Active cases dropped by almost 200 to 18,906 as recoveries again exceeded new infections.

Thursday's cases were identified after an additional 180,340 tests were carried out in one of the highest screening days in the Emirates.

Almost 27.6 million DPI and PCR tests have been conducted since the outbreak.

The UAE has administered almost 4.7m Covid-19 vaccine doses since beginning a nationwide drive in December.

This equates to 47.37 doses per 100 people – the second highest rate in the world after Israel.

The UAE aims to vaccinate at least 50 per cent of the population by the end of next month.

Authorities, meanwhile, are clamping down on illegal gatherings that risk spreading the virus further.

On Wednesday, officials said more than 30,000 breaches of Covid-19 safety rules were reported in the UAE this year.

Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said most offences involved people failing to wear face masks, adhere to social distancing practices or taking part in gatherings.

Police in Dubai stepped up efforts to combat rule-breaking parties at homes and in public.

The force broke up parties at a desert camp, on a yacht and at a private residence in recent days.

On Thursday, a commercial establishment was fined Dh5,000 for hosting a gathering without adhering to precautionary measures. Each person who attended the event was fined Dh3,000 for not wearing a mask nor maintaining physical distancing.