UAE reports highest cases again as 2,998 people diagnosed with Covid-19

For a third day, new cases were close to 3,000 as mass testing continues after the festive holidays

A Dubai ambulance worker is vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in Dubai.

An older resident receives her first shot at Zabeel Health Centre on December 27, 2020.

The vaccine is expected to be rolled out to all age groups once people in the essential categories have been vaccinated.

A nurse holds a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved for use by Dubai's emergency and crisis authority and the federal Ministry of Health.

An employee from Roads and Transport Authority receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Dubai.

A woman receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

The city has six vaccine centres where the Pfizer-BioNTech shot is available.

A man waits to receive the first of two doses at Zabeel Health Centre in Dubai on 27 December, 2020.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A nurse opens a freezer at Barsha Health Centre. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at minus 70C when transported.

A vial of the vaccine is seen at Barsha Health Centre. AFP

A nurse prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at al-Barsha Health Centre in Dubai. AFP

The UAE reported 2,998 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, the highest daily figure since the pandemic began.

The figure marked the third day in a row that cases have been above 2,900 and came as mass testing continued following the festive holidays.

Five further deaths were reported taking the total to 702, while 2,264 people recovered.

Since the outbreak began, the country has confirmed 227,702 cases, with 203,660 people recovered to date.

For three days in a row more than 160,000 people were tested, with Saturday marking a record at 168,770.

Saturday's figures followed the diagnosis of 2,067 new cases on Wednesday, rising to 2,988 on Thursday and 2,950 on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of residents were tested as they returned to work following the Christmas and New Year break, which the rise is thought to be linked to.

Mandatory testing was already in place for many professionals, including in service industry workers in hotels, restaurants and retail, along with transport workers, school teachers and frontline personnel.

Hospitals inundated with travel test requests

Some tourists already in the UAE, including from the UK, have found the rules have changed since they arrived and they must now get tested before they fly home - further adding to the large number of daily tests.

Tourists and residents who are due to fly in the coming days were urged to get tested well in advance.

NMC Health, one of the country's biggest private operators, said it had seen a spike in demand from residents and tourists for PCR nasal swab tests.

"There has been an increase in Covid-19 PCR tests in the last few days due to the increase in cases," a spokesman told The National.

“The increase in tests can also be attributed to the mandatory travel requirement.”

He said lab staff were working "around the clock" to ensure results could still be expected 12 to 18 hours after the test was taken.

Mediclinic, another major operator, on Saturday told patients could take up to 48 hours to process results due to increased demand. Previously, its clinics could deliver results in under 12 hours, though it usually estimates it could take up to 36 hours.

Aster Hospitals said it was taking 24 to 36 hours to report results, while Abu Dhabi's publicly-owned hospital group Seha - which runs most of the country's drive-through testing facilities - said people should expect results in one to two business days.

Earlier on Saturday, Dubai opened a seventh clinic dedicated to vaccine shots at the city continued to roll out the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

Al Safa medical centre, near Jumeirah and Downtown Dubai, will deliver inoculations to over 60s and people with underlying health conditions.

From April, the vaccine will be rolled-out to all age groups, officials said earlier this month.

The Sinopharm vaccine, which was found to be 79 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19, is available across all health centres across the country.

9.5 out of 100 people now vaccinated 

The country's vaccine campaign continued on Saturday with the latest figures showing 9.5 in every 100 people have received a dose.

The figures from the country's crisis authority Ncema show a steady rise since it began regular reporting on January 4.

The UAE remains behind only Israel in the global vaccine push.

In the space of 24 hours, 53,859 shots were given to people across the country, officials said late on Friday.

The authorities - which publish figures based on the number of shots administered - said 941,556 had been given so far across the nation.