Dubai - More than 20.8 million Covid-19 tests have been carried out in the UAE so far.
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday reported 1,730 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,435 recoveries.
Four deaths were also reported.
As many as 146,721 tests were carried out throughout the country, taking the total number of tests to more than 20.8 million so far.
Medics in the country have urged residents to stay calm and committed to following hygiene protocols, with the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19. The UAE had announced on Tuesday that it had detected a "limited number" of cases of the new strain in passengers who had travelled to the country from abroad.
Following a slight increase in the number of cases in the country, Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesperson of the NCEMA, on Wednesday warned that hefty fines will be slapped on anyone violating safety regulations during New Year's Eve celebrations.
Meanwhile, schools across the country are preparing to welcome students back for the new academic term with a blend of on-site and online learning models. All students in the Capital will have distance learning for the first two weeks after schools reopen, while in Dubai, the KHDA announced that schools would reopen "as usual". Private schools in Sharjah are giving parents the option to choose the learning mode for their children.