The United Arab Emirates has detected 1,317 new coronavirus cases, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced on Thursday.
The increase is higher than in previous days, which reported between 1,100 and 1,200 new daily cases.
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The Ministry of Health also reported five people had died of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, which is higher than the usual daily death toll in recent weeks.
The ministry conducted 132,380 tests over the past day in line with its expanded testing program.
A further 655 people had recovered from the virus, added the ministry.
The Ministry of Health conducts 132,380 tests as part of its plans to expand the scope of the tests, and reveals 1,317 new cases of the #Coronavirus, 655 recoveries and 5 deaths cases due to complications. #CommitToWin pic.twitter.com/btTE9b3Vbg
— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) December 3, 2020
Read more: Coronavirus: UAE reports 1,107 infections as downward trend continues for COVID cases
Coronavirus in the UAE
The UAE has conducted over 17 million coronavirus tests in a country with a population of approximately 9.8 million.
In total, tests have confirmed 172,751 cases.
The country has a relatively low death rate, with just 585 deaths from the virus. The vast majority of patients - 157,035 - have recovered.
There are currently 15,131 active cases in the UAE.
Authorities have banned parties and gatherings for the country's National Day, Christmas, and New Year holidays to prevent a surge in cases over the winter.
Read more: Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi Ports to store and distribute 70 mln COVID-19 vaccines
