CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey approached 2.3 million on Thursday after 12,171 new infections were recorded. Meanwhile, the tally of COVID-19 infections in Iraq surpassed 600,000 after 790 new cases were added.

The total COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, surged to 2,296,102, while its death toll from the infectious disease rose by 194 to 22,264. The tally of recoveries in Turkey increased by 8,211 to 2,172,251.

In Iraq, the total COVID-19 cases climbed to 600,755 after 790 new infections were recorded, while its death toll rose to 12,869 after adding four more deaths, the lowest record in about seven months.

Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi said that Iraq continues to impose the restrictions at airports and border crossings to prevent the new strain of coronavirus characterized by faster transmission.

Iraq has urgent coordination with the World Health Organization on testing the new virus, including building two laboratories in Baghdad, one in the Medical City and the other in Central Public Health Laboratory, al-Tamimi said.

Iran reported 6,360 daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total nationwide infections to 1,268,263.

The pandemic has so far claimed 55,993 lives in Iran, up by 103 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Lari added that a total of 1,050,553 people have recovered from the disease, while 4,745 remained in intensive care units.

Israel's Ministry of Health reported 7,942 new COVID-19 cases and 37 more fatalities on Thursday, bringing the total cases to 470,151 and the death toll to 3,549.

The number of patients in serious condition in Israel decreased from 887 to 872, while the total recoveries rose by 4,741 to 402,637, it said.

The ministry also said that so far about 1.6 million people in Israel have been vaccinated against the virus, which is about 17.2 percent of Israeli population of about 9.3 million.

Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 448,678 on Thursday as 1,597 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, while its death toll surged by 27 to 7,645.

The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased by 1,825 to 420,569, while 1,100 people were in intensive care units, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said in a statement.

The Moroccan cabinet decided Thursday to extend the state of health emergency until Feb. 10, as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jordan announced 1,215 new coronavirus infections and 13 more deaths, raising its tally of COVID-19 cases to 304,071 and its total death count to 3,968. The total recoveries in the kingdom increased by 1,616 to 284,343.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported a new daily record of 2,988 COVID-19 cases and five more deaths, taking its tally of infections to 221,754 and its death toll to 694. Its total recoveries rose by 3,658 to 199,178.

Lebanon also reported a new daily record of 4,774 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections in the country to 204,699, while its death toll went up by 16 to 1,566.

Lebanon started on Thursday the third nationwide lockdown since the COVID-19 outbreak on Feb. 21, 2020. Anyone who breaks the lockdown rules will be imprisoned and fined by Lebanese security forces patrolling the streets.

Kuwait reported 540 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections to 152,978, while its death toll remained at 938. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 224 more patients, taking the total recoveries to 148,239.

The Omani health ministry announced 182 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed cases in the sultanate to 130,070, and one more death, bringing its death toll to 1,505.

It also confirmed 100 new recoveries during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries in Oman to 122,556.

In Qatar, the health ministry reported 210 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 145,271, and 132 more recovered cases, bringing the overall recoveries to 142,314.

The COVID-19 death toll in Qatar remained unchanged at 245 for the 10th day in a row, according to a ministry statement. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)