Coronavirus: UAE records another death as cases rise to 664

The 67-year-old who died was from Asia and had a number of underlying health conditions

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Fifty three new cases of coronavirus were detected in the UAE on Tuesday as authorities announced the death of a patient.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the 67-year-old who died was from Asia and had a number of underlying health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and blood pressure issues. It brought the country's total virus death count to six.

The new cases brought the UAE's total infection tally to 664, including 61 recoveries.

New patients also include individuals from Algeria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran, Kuwait, Switzerland, Turkey, the Philippines, Italy, France, the US; two people from Egypt and Nepal; three from the UK; four Emiratis and 30 Indians.

They were identified through contact tracing conducted by the ministry.

This week, the ministry revealed the UAE had completed more than 220,000 laboratory tests for coronavirus.

The latest analysis of global figures has the UAE sixth in the world for population testing, regarded as the gold standard for limiting contagion.

Testing will continue at an even greater pace after Abu Dhabi opened its first drive-through testing centre in Zayed Sports City.

More centres are due to open across the rest of the country, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, with each capable of testing 600 people a day.