UAE reports 1,518 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths

The UAE reported 1,518 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, following an additional 280,747 tests.

Cases in the UAE have been steadily falling since June 29, when 2,105 new infections were reported.

The latest caseload brought the country's overall tally to 650,220.

Six people died of Covid-related causes in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 1,866.

Another 1,490 people beat the virus, as the recovery total climbed to 628,290.

The number of active cases in the Emirates stands at 20,064.

Officials announced that 18,407 more doses of Covid-19 vaccine were given in the last 24 hours. More 15.9 million doses have now been administered.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said three-quarters of the UAE population has received at least the first dose, with 65 per cent of residents fully vaccinated.

The UAE is carrying out one of the world’s fastest vaccination programmes to curb the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, senior Indian officials held talks with their Gulf counterparts to discuss lifting coronavirus restrictions on flights from India to the region.

The suspension of flights from India was introduced in late April, as India was hit by the highly infectious Delta Covid-19 variant and a massive surge in cases.

V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, met with Indian ambassadors in the Gulf to discuss moves towards the resumption of passenger flights.

The news comes as several airlines reopened bookings on flights from India to the UAE, in anticipation of the ban being lifted.

Flights from Thursday, July 15, onwards are available on Indian airlines Vistara, and from Friday, July 16, with Emirates and flydubai.

However, travel agents warned that current restrictions could be extended beyond July 15.