UAE: Covid-19 infections decrease 62% in Aug 2021 compared to Jan – official

A decrease of 62 per cent in Covid-19 infections was recorded in August 2021 across the UAE, compared to January this year, a government official has revealed.

Infections in January totalled 95,787, while 36,516 cases were reported in August.

“From January to August 2021, we have witnessed a significant decrease in infections, amounting to 62 per cent,” said Dr. Farida Al Hosani, the official spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector, during the UAE Government media briefing on the Covid-19 pandemic.

She attributed this decline to several factors, mostly the readiness of the health system and its rapid response, as well as the expanding scope of national Covid-19 testing aimed at reducing infections and providing adequate treatment on time, official news agency WAM reported.

The price of PCR tests was also reduced to Dhs50, and safe vaccines are available for all age groups and segments of the community. As much as 87.19 per cent of the population has taken their first vaccine dose, while 76.12 per cent has taken both shots, she added.

Read: UAE: Prices of Covid-19 PCR tests reduced to Dhs50 across country

“The health sector has harnessed its efforts and capabilities in terms of research and clinical trials to ensure vaccine efficacy. Today, we have achieved satisfactory and safe results in terms of national vaccine distribution rates. Therefore, we appreciate the public’s trust in the work of the health sector,” Dr. Al Hosani said. Vaccine booster shots, which is an additional dose taken after the first two doses, also helped strengthen people’s immunity and decreased the number of infections.

Al Hosani stressed the importance of vaccinating students with the start of the new academic year, affirming the vaccines available in the country are safe for all age groups.

“Our message to parents is that our children are the source of our joy, and our duty is to protect their health and safety. The vaccine encourages the immune system to produce antibodies, therefore, reducing the possibility of contracting the virus,” she stated.

Dr. Al Hosani welcomed people coming from abroad, noting the importance of their adherence to all precautionary measures during their summer holiday, as well as undergoing the necessary tests and committing to the appropriate quarantine period upon arrival. The UAE is taking applications for tourist visas from vaccinated people from around the world.

Read more: UAE to open processing of tourist visas for vaccinated individuals from all countries

“Community coherence is currently essential, and we all must adhere to relevant precautionary measures. We have returned to workplaces, our children have returned to schools, and the capacities of businesses have increased, proving the country’s strategic balance succeeded in reaching the recovery period. We appreciate your commitment and sense of awareness, and we urge you to continue supporting the country’s efforts to contain the virus.”

The UAE recorded 996 cases on August 31, raising the nationwide case count to 718,370.

Read: Covid-19 update: UAE reports 996 cases, 2 deaths