The UAE recorded 1,214 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing its total number of infections to 175,276. A further 670 people were given the all clear, taking the recovery tally to 158,498. Three patients died, pushing the country's death toll to 589. The latest cases were identified after 83,146 additional tests were carried out in the past 24 hours. The UAE has carried out more 17.3 million tests since the outbreak began as part of a mass screening strategy aimed to limit the spread of the virus. The number of active cases in the Emirates is 16,189. The UAE's top priority is to develop and disseminate a safe vaccine to protect the population against Covid-19. Last week, Dr Omar Al Hammadi, official spokesman for the country's regular Covid-19 media briefing, said a campaign to vaccinate frontline workers, people with chronic illnesses and the elderly was still under way. That group was prioritised "because they are more vulnerable to infection than others". On Saturday, Russia began distributing the Sputnik V Covid-19 shot via clinics in Moscow, marking the country’s first mass vaccination against the disease, the city's coronavirus task force said.
