The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention on Wednesday, April 29, announced 549 new cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country, bring the total number of cases to 11,929. 

Nine death were also announced, with the number reaching 98 deaths in the country. 

The authority also announced 148 new recoveries, with the total recoveries reaching 2,329 in UAE. 

Dr Farida Al Hosani, Official Spokesperson for the UAE Health Sector, during the conference on April 29, said that symptoms of some of those people infected with the coronavirus, may be simple symptoms such as high fever, coughing and sore throat, while some people may experience a loss of sense of smell and taste for a temporary period.

There is high percentage of people who get virus but do not have any symptoms. In their case, treatment is needed and hospitalization is needed. The risk is that they can spread the virus to others. So these people should confine themselves to their homes or quarantine facilities. Social distancing is minimum national obligation.

The UAE is slowly easing restrictions put in place to combat Covid-19. The Dubai Metro is now running, restaurants and shops are accepting customers once again, with precautions in place. Even the Gold Souq in Deira, which is among the more populated areas in the emirate, is now open.

Dubai had on Sunday eased the 24-hour movement restrictions in Naif and Al Ras areas after no new cases were recorded in the densely populated areas in two days. More than 6,000 tests were conducted among residents in the areas in less than a month.

Dr Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, had previously said that an increase in the number of cases is expected as the country has ramped up testing. At over 1.12 million tests, the UAE has the third highest testing density in the world.

In Abu Dhabi, as many as 20,000 employees working in malls have undergone Covid-19 testing ahead of the reopening of shopping malls in the emirate.

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) operated seven Covid-19 drive-thru testing centres round the clock to ensure none of the staff is infected as they return to work.