UAE records 2,304 Covid-19 cases on largest testing day to date

A further 2,428 patients overcame the virus

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The UAE reported 2,304 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, its highest number of daily infections since March 9.

This latest figure brought the country's overall tally to 453,069.

Another 2,428 people were given the all-clear, as the recovery total climbed to 436,463.

Five patients died, taking the death toll to 1,477.

The number of active cases fell to 15,129 – thanks to recoveries surpassing new infections for the 14th day running.

The rise in daily cases came on the largest single day of testing to date.

An additional 248,372 tests were conducted during the 24-hour reporting period.

More than 36.7 million tests have been carried out nationwide since the outbreak began.

Mass screening remains an integral part of the UAE's fight against coronavirus.

Daily testing rates have increased sharply during the course of the pandemic.

More than 200,000 tests have been conducted daily on all but four days in March.

Last week, Abu Dhabi cut the cost of PCR tests from Dh85 ($23.14) to Dh65.

At the start of the outbreak, the standard price for a PCR test in the UAE was Dh370.

Unvaccinated employees working in five industries across the country must take a PCR test every 14 days, under new rules which come into force on Sunday.

The measure applies to anyone employed by hotels, restaurants, transport companies, laundries and beauty salons and hairdressers.

It is part of plans to "limit the spread of the virus, preserve the health of employees and keep work environments safe," said the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

On Saturday, health officials announced an additional 160,165 doses of vaccine had been administered, raising the total to 7,959,682.

The overall tally equates to 80.48 doses per 100 people, a rate surpassed across the world only by Israel.