Coronavirus: UAE reports 421 new Covid-19 cases, 490 recoveries, 1 death

The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Tuesday reported 421 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 490 new recoveries.
As many as 63,000 new Covid-19 tests have been carried out, the ministry said.
One new death has also been reported.

In a major announcement on Monday, the UAE announced that mosques and other places of worship will reopen at 30 per cent capacity. However, Friday prayers will remain suspended.

Saif Al Dhaheri, spokesperson for the National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA), added that certain mosques in industrial areas, labor residential areas, shopping malls and public parks will remain closed until further notice.

The ministry once again highlighted its aim to expand the scope of testing nationwide, to facilitate the early detection of Covid-19 cases and carry out the necessary treatment. Over the past few days, many hospitals in the country were declared Covid-free after discharging their recovered patients.

It was also announced yesterday that UAE residents and visitors will need a Covid-negative test result to enter Abu Dhabi. They should have received the results in 48 hours prior to their visit. The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Committee for the Covid-19 Pandemic said the negative test results must be shown via the AlHosn app or as a text message from any hospital or screening centre in the UAE affiliated to the National Screening Programme.

Meanwhile, all federal government employees in the UAE will report to office from July 5. Only employees with chronic diseases are allowed to continue working from home, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said. Such employees need to provide a medical report approved by an official committee, the authority added. Previously, some other categories of employees were exempted from going to office. These included pregnant women, people of determination, the elderly, and female employees with children in grade 9 and below, among others.