Picture used for illustrative purpose only.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dr Omar Abdulrahman Al Hammadi, Official Spokesman of the UAE Government said that between Dec.2 and Dec.8, a total of 791,739 COVID-19 tests were conducted nationwide.

The number of confirmed cases were 8,688, and the rate of positive cases out of the total number of tests remains 1.0%.

The death rate during this period was 0.3%, which is the lowest in the world compared to all of the European Union, the Middle East and North Africa and the countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Authorities have urged members of the public to follow social distancing and adhere to precautionary measures.

The UAE Government said private parties and social gatherings would not be allowed in the country in the coming festive season due to the coronavirus.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said, “With Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations approaching, we stress the importance of adhering to precautionary and preventive health and safety measures during all activities to tackle COVID-19.”

The authorities also mentioned that private parties and gatherings would not be allowed, areas for the isolation of sick individuals must be provided and entry and exit routes at all facilities should be clearly marked using posters.