The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday reported 1,538 cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, along with 1,501 recoveries. Two deaths were also reported.

As many as 105,740 new tests were carried out, taking the total to nearly 12 million tests so far.

The UAE is continuing to administer a Covid-19 vaccine being trialled here among healthcare staff, a top official said yesterday. The vaccine is being given under an emergency approval to the "first line of defense, who are more susceptible to disease as a result of the nature of their work". Dr Farida Al Hosni, spokesperson for the UAE health sector, said: "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many scientific and experimental steps have been shortened for the greater benefit and reduction of the spread of infection." The process of producing a vaccine in the normal scenarios could take "decades", she said.

The UAE has also seen a "marked increase" in the number of positive and recovered cases. "This rise is a natural and predicted result based on the global pattern, as a result of the gradual return to normal life," said Dr Hosni.

Between October 14 and 20, the rate of positive cases among those tested has remained at 1 per cent - the lowest compared to the European Union, the Middle East, North Africa and OECD countries. Compared to last week, the total number of recoveries increased to about 10,000 cases, with a total of 22 deaths. A mortality rate of 0.4 per cent is one of the lowest in the world, said the official.

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