UAE reports 150 new coronavirus cases, two deaths

Late on Wednesday evening, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention reported 150 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of those infected with the virus up to 814.

It is the single highest daily rate of infections reported in the UAE since the start of the Covid-19 global pandemic.

The ministry also announced two deaths, bringing the total death toll due to the virus up to 8.

The two deceased individuals include a 62-year-old Asian national and a 78-year-old Gulf citizen. Both were reported to have chronic illnesses including heart disease.

Among the 150 newly detected cases of various nationalities, it included those who came in contact with previously confirmed cases and did not adhere to preventative measures or maintain sufficient physical distance as well as those with a history of international travel, reported official news agency WAM.

Their condition is said to be stable while they receive necessary medical care.

The UAE has built a massive-throughput laboratory in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City which will allow for population-scale detection and diagnosis of the Covid-19 virus. The laboratory can conduct tens of thousands of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests per day to test for the virus and is the first facility of this scale built outside of China.

Read: Watch: How Abu Dhabi built a high-volume Covid-19 testing lab in 14 days

Apart from the laboratory, the UAE is also setting up drive-through testing centres across the country. The first one is already operational in Abu Dhabi, while the others will be set up within the next week in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

Read: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed orders drive-through Covid-19 testing centres across the UAE

The ministry and local health authorities called upon the public to adopt healthy practices such as maintaining hand hygiene by washing with soap and water and covering the mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing to safeguard against contracting contagious diseases.

It also advised people suffering from respiratory illnesses to avoid crowded places and asked them to consume information only from official sources and refrain from spreading rumours.

The UAE has embarked on an extensive national disinfection programme that is currently underway between 8pm and 6am daily until the morning of April 5.