CAIRO, June 8 (NNN-MENA) – As COVID-19 continues to spread in the Middle East, Iran and Turkey have both seen their confirmed cases surpassing 170,000, while Saudi Arabia’s total cases exceeded 100,000.
Iran’s confirmed cases rose to 171,789 on Sunday, after an overnight registration of 2,364 new infections, IRNA news agency reported.
The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 8,281 Iranians, up by 72 in the past 24 hours. Besides, 134,349 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, while 2,596 remain in critical condition.
Iran’s health officials urged the people to wear masks in public places, particularly in public transport vehicles, as the country has started to restart businesses and social activities.
Turkey’s cases increased by 914 to a total of 170,132 on Sunday, Turkish Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, said. Meanwhile, 23 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,692, the minister tweeted.
A total of 2,647 patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 137,969, Koca said, noting that, 613 patients are being treated at intensive care units and 274 are intubated.
Turkish people enjoyed a curfew-free weekend, as the country, on Friday, announced to cancel an initially planned weekend lock-down.
As people rushed to streets and parks at the weekend, Koca urged citizens to stick to social distancing. “Let’s not overdo the normalisation,” he tweeted.
Saudi Arabia registered 3,045 new cases on Sunday, bringing the total cases to 101,914, the health ministry tweeted.
Its death toll reached 712, after the reporting of 36 new fatalities. The recoveries increased to 72,817, with 1,026 newly recovered cases.
Egypt on Sunday registered 1,467 new cases, raising the total number of infections to 34,079, said the health ministry.
Death toll from the disease rose to 1,237, after 39 fatalities were added. A total of 8,691 recoveries have been registered in Egypt.
The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that the number of patients increased to 17,836 by Sunday, after 111 new patients were detected.
According to the ministry, the number of deaths increased from 295 to 298. Recoveries increased to 15,091, with 41 new recoveries.
Iraq’s Health Ministry said, the total number of cases in the country climbed to 12,366, after setting a new record of daily increase with 1,268 infections.
The ministry said, 28 people died from the virus during the day, bringing the death toll to 346, while 5,186 patients have recovered.
Qatar’s health ministry announced 1,595 new infections, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 68,790.
“Some 1,811 people recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 44,338, while three others died, raising the fatalities up to 54.”
The United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, announced 540 new cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 38,808.
The ministry also confirmed one more death, pushing the country’s death toll to 276.
Kuwait reported 717 new cases and 10 more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 31,848 and the death toll to 264, the Health Ministry said.
The Omani Ministry of Health announced 866 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 16,882. The ministry also said that three new deaths were reported, bringing the death toll to 75.
Morocco announced 73 new cases, bringing the total number in the North African country to 8,224. The country’s death toll stood at 208.
Lebanon’s number of COVID-19 infections increased on Sunday by 11 cases to 1,331, while the death toll rose by one to 30.– NNN-MENA
