LONDON: The UAE recorded its highest number of COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak of the disease, the country’s health ministry said on Saturday.
There were 2,631 new cases and 3,589 recoveries in the latest round of figures, and 15 additional deaths in the past 24 hours. The death toll is over 1,000.
There has been a spike in new daily cases since the beginning of the year, largely due to the high number of tourists traveling to the country over the holiday period.
Dubai increased its healthcare capacity to deal with the higher numbers, an official told AFP.
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Dubai ‘surges’ health care capacity as virus cases spike
“Recently, when the numbers started to rise again, the health system has managed to surge its capacity to stay ahead of the curve and make sure that every patient today in Dubai who needs care, gets it without any interruption,” the deputy director general of the Dubai Health Authority, Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, said.
Two men were arrested in Abu Dhabi after a video that showed one of them walking around the city after testing positive for COVID-19, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Police identified the men and tracked them down, and Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution said they would be charged with “endangering the health of others and violating the preventive measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
One of the men is seen revealing his positive test result on his phone while walking around in public. The offense can carry a jail sentence and fines of between AED10,000 ($2,720) and AED50,000, according to UAE law.
