Coronavirus kills 43 in Iraq, 18 in Saudi Arabia

By Mohammed Yahya Ahmad Mohammed, Hacer Baser and Muhammed Semiz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Health authorities in Iraq and Saudi Arabia confirmed more fatalities and infections from the novel coronavirus Wednesday.

Officials in Iraq said 43 people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the nationwide death toll to 11,795.

The virus also sickened 2,349 additional patients, bringing total cases to 526,852, including 445,176 recoveries.

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry recorded 18 more deaths and 290 new cases.

The Kingdom’s count now stands at 5,710 deaths and 354,208 infections, as well as 341,515 recoveries.

Since first being detected in Wuhan, China in December, COVID-19 has claimed more than 1.34 million lives in 191 countries and regions.

More than 55.91 million cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 35.94 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz