Coronavirus: 210 new cases of Covid-19 in UAE as total reaches 1,024

Health ministry also says 35 people recovered from Covid-19, bringing total to 96

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The UAE announced 210 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the country's total to 1,024.

The new patients, who are in stable condition, were identified during contact tracing and had not followed preventive measures, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said.

The ministry also announced that 35 people had recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total to 96. The announcement came as the world recorded more than one million cases since the outbreak began.

Eight people have died of coronavirus since the UAE identified its first cases in late January. All had underlying chronic health conditions.

“The new cases were detected upon examining people who came in contact with previously infected patients and did not adhere to preventative measures or maintain sufficient physical distance," the state news agency Wam reported.

"A number of these cases resulted from international travel”.

The newly diagnosed patients are of several nationalities. All are receiving the necessary medical care.

On Thursday, the country extended its suspension of entry for UAE residency visa holders for another two weeks.

Residents were banned from re-entering the Emirates two weeks ago in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The suspension came days before the UAE grounded all commercial flights in and out of the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said UAE residents abroad who must urgently return to the Emirates should register on its Tawajudi platform.