For the first time this year, the UAE is witnessing more new COVID-19 infections than recoveries across the country. This pattern is being observed by the UAE authorities since April 10. It is important to note that in the first week of April, the UAE registered the lowest number of new COVID-19 infections in 2021 as compared to higher cases recorded in January and February.

However, medical experts have called on the community to view the pattern as a positive development in the UAE's successful efforts in bending the COVID-19 curve. According to experts, there has been a steady rise in the number of daily infections between 1,700 to 2,200. Dr. Sunil Vyas, pulmonology (specialist) at Aster Hospital in Al Qusais, explained that the cases have been consistent between 1,800-2,000 cases per day with no decline below 1,500. He added only a few cases are severe or critical that takes more days to recover, resulting in fewer recoveries overall.

“Once the cases reach the peak and then plateau, recoveries start increasing and outnumber the daily cases. However, once the number of daily cases reduces, the recoveries can be less than the daily cases or equal to it," Dr Vyas underlined.

He stressed this trend can be seen as a positive sign in the battle against Coronavirus, as it could be an actual indication of the COVID-19 curve bending in the UAE. But, he noted it is early to predict anything and declare victory over the disease.

Dr Vyas said the new variants of COVID-19 that emerged in various parts of the world are contagious and fatal. In this regard, he called on the community to continue compliance with precautionary measures.

UAE reported over 95,700 new COVID-19 infections, 87,900 cases in February, 69,900 cases in March, and 58,700 cases in April.

Dr Prasanna Kumar, critical care specialist at Medeor Hospital in Dubai, asserted that with a rise in the number of cases in the first few months of 2021, several patients are also recovering. This explains the comparatively lower count of recoveries from the disease.

Dr Kumar explained that the UAE saw a rise in the daily number of COVID-19 cases earlier this year. Only some of them needed longer hospital care, especially the elderly and those with certain medical conditions.

Dr Kumar further affirmed the UAE's efforts to combat the pandemic are moving in the right direction. The health specialist noted strict compliance with safety instructions and rapid vaccination efforts helped in bringing down the number of daily reported cases from 4,000 to less than 2,000.

However, new infections requiring hospital care are emerging every day. Significantly, if the new cases and patients who have not yet recovered and still in hospitals are calculated together, it appears that recovery is low.

"Instead of looking at it separately, we should consider the same in the above context," Dr Vyas said.

The UAE has come a long way in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, effective precautionary and preventive measures adopted by UAE authorities are working in the right direction, helping in decreasing the overall number of new cases.

Meanwhile, medical experts have urged all members of the community to continue following safety protocols and not let their guards down.