UAE announces 294 new Covid-19 cases, total now at 1,799

The UAE reported 241 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, April 5, taking the total number of those infected in the country to 1,799, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced.

The new cases are nationals of different countries and are all in a stable condition, the ministry said. They are receiving the necessary health care.

The UAE also confirmed that 19 additional people had recovered, with 144 patients now fully cured.

The death toll remains at 10.

The ministry indicated that the increase in the number of cases is due to the “lack of commitment to the preventive and precautionary measures, social distancing and quarantine procedures”. Some of the cases are also related to travel abroad.

The UAE is taking several measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The national disinfection programme is underway across the country with restricted movement between 8pm and 6am everyday.

Meanwhile Dubai has extended the programme to 24 hours, effective April 4 onwards, for a period of two weeks, in a decision that is subject to renewal.

While residents are allowed to exit their homes for healthcare and grocery shopping and those working in vital sectors are exempt, officials confirmed on Sunday that anybody stepping out of the house requires a permit to do so.

Dubai Police also took to Twitter to inform residents that radars will be activated throughout the day across the emirate to monitor the movement of cars inside the city.

Read: All Dubai residents need permits to leave their homes

The UAE has also suspended most international flights, including transit flights, and on Sunday announced that those holding expired residence visas in the country will not face fines this year.

Read: No fines for residency visa violations in UAE until the end of the year