The UAE recorded 2,167 Covid-19 infections on Thursday, bringing its overall tally to 606,128. Another 2,127 people beat the virus as the recovery total climbed to 585,242. Three patients died during the 24-hour reporting period as the country's death toll during the outbreak rose to 1,741. The latest cases were detected as a result of 243,844 tests. Mass testing and a nationwide vaccination drive are key to the country's strategy to combat the pandemic. More than 14 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to the public since the inoculation campaign was launched in December. Alongside efforts to limit the spread of the virus, the Emirates is seeking to provide the best treatment for patients. Abu Dhabi's Department of Health struck an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to treat Covid-19 patients in the UAE with a new anti-viral drug, Sotrovimab. Studies have shown that the medicine prevents extreme illness and death in 85 per cent of early treatment cases and can work on all known variations to date. The medication arrived in Abu Dhabi this week, making the UAE the first country in the world to receive the drug. Sotrovimab is an antibody treatment that is delivered intravenously. It is a therapy, not a vaccine. It can be used to treat adults and children above the age of 12 who meet certain criteria and are at risk of developing severe Covid-19 infections, under protocols developed by the National Scientific Committee.
