UAE reports 1,129 new cases after record 136,000 tests

The UAE recorded 1,129 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday following the biggest day of testing to date.

The authorities confirmed one further death and 1,070 recoveries. In the past day, 136,430 people were screened for the virus.

The latest numbers took the total to 105,133, while the death toll was 443.

Officials said 95,973 patients in the Emirates have recovered to date.

Weekend testing figures have been consistently high in recent weeks. People working in hospitality, schools, hospitals and transport are often screened every week or fortnight, while residents must be tested to enter Abu Dhabi.

The authorities continued to crack down on businesses violating strict precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.

On Saturday, Dubai Economy inspectors fined 25 businesses for failing to enforce safety and social distancing rules.

During the inspections, 317 businesses were found to comply with regulations.

On Friday, the authority closed down an unnamed retailer on its opening day due to overcrowding.

Staff were unable to adhere to social distancing measures which led to a surge of shoppers filling the premises to take advantage of the opening day offers.

Another business was fined for similar violations and 10 more shops received warnings.

Globally, European countries are facing the prospect of new restrictions, including lockdowns, after coronavirus cases in the region rose by 28 per cent in a week.

On Friday, Madrid in Spain was forced into a partial lockdown as cases spiked in the city. And in Germany, chancellor Angela Merkel warned of tougher action in hotspots across the country if numbers did not begin to decrease or plateau.

Global cases of Covid-19 stand at 36.9 million according to Johns Hopkins University, with 1.07m deaths and 25.7 million recoveries.