UAE reports 179 new Covid-19 cases, says PCR tests ‘most effective’ to detect virus

The UAE government said on August 10 that it had detected 179 new Covid-19 cases in the country, pushing the overall number of infections to 62,704.

The new infections were detected following 58,953 tests undertaken to screen for the virus.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) also said that there were 198 new recoveries. The UAE has a high recovery rate and hence 56,766 people have made a full recovery after contracting the virus.

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آخر الإحصائيات حول إصابات فيروس كوفيد 19 في الإمارات
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The latest update of Coronavirus (Covid 19) in the UAE#نلتزم_لننتصر #التزامك_حياتك#ملتزمون_يا_وطن#فيروس_كورونا_المستجد #كوفيد19#وزارة_الصحة_ووقاية_المجتمع_الإمارات#coronavirus#covid19#mohap_uae pic.twitter.com/1h5O7Y1hcy

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع الإماراتية – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) August 10, 2020

There are now 5,581 individuals being treated for the infection in the UAE.

The ministry also said that there were no new deaths over the preceding 24-hour period.

Dr. Omar Al Hammadi, the official spokesman for the UAE Government, said that the recent increase in cases were associated with social and family gatherings. He said that some people mistakenly link the opening of markets, restaurants and commercial centres to the rise in infections.

“Unlike people’s behavior at public places, which is subject to mandatory measures like social distancing and [wearing of] face masks, private and family gatherings are not,” said Al Hammadi.

With regards to the testing within the country, he added that Covid-19 antibody testing is a blood test that reveals if a person had a past infection of the virus.

However, it doesn’t determine if he is currently infected with virus.

Dr. Al Hammadi:Covid-19 antibody testing is a blood test that reveals if a person had a past infection of the virus. It doesn’t determine if he is currently infected with Covid-19.The PCR is currently the most effective and approved test to diagnosis a COVID-19 infection. #UAEGov

— UAEGov (@uaegov) August 10, 2020

The laser blood tests meanwhile helps to quickly identify any changes in the blood, which may indicate an infection, but it does not prove this definitively.

He reiterated that the polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) “is currently the most effective and approved test” to diagnose the presence of the virus.