Coronavirus: UAE announces 552 new cases, 100 recoveries, 7 deaths

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Thursday announced 552 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus and 100 cases of recovery.
As many as 27,000 more Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the country, the ministry added, which revealed the new cases. The new cases identified are undergoing treatment.
The ministry also confirmed seven deaths - identified as nationals of different countries.
With this, the total number of cases detected in the country stands at 12,481, total recoveries now total 2,429, and total deaths have reached 105.

The UAE is slowly easing restrictions put in place to combat Covid-19. The Dubai Metro is now running, restaurants and shops are accepting customers once again, with precautions in place. Even the Gold Souq in Deira, which is among the more populated areas in the emirate, is now open.

Dubai had on Sunday eased the 24-hour movement restrictions in Naif and Al Ras areas after no new cases were recorded in the densely populated areas in two days. More than 6,000 tests were conducted among residents in the areas in less than a month.

Dr Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, had previously said that an increase in the number of cases is expected as the country has ramped up testing. At over 1.2 million tests, the UAE has the third highest testing density in the world.

In Abu Dhabi, as many as 20,000 employees working in malls have undergone Covid-19 testing ahead of the reopening of shopping malls in the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) operated seven Covid-19 drive-thru testing centres round the clock to ensure none of the staff is infected as they return to work.