Coronavirus tally rises in 5 Arab countries

By Serdar Bitmez and Safiye Karabacak

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UAE and Morocco on Thursday confirmed new fatalities from the novel coronavirus, while Qatar, Oman and Lebanon reported new cases.

In the UAE, the Health Ministry said two more people died from COVID-19, bringing the toll to 208. The number of cases rose by 698 to reach 21,084, it added. A total of 6,930 people have so far recovered in the country.

In a statement, the Moroccan Health Ministry said one patient died of the virus, taking the death toll to 189. Health officials in the country confirmed 81 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 6,593. A total of 3,222 people have recovered.

Qatar reported 1,733 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 28,272. The country’s death toll stands at 14, while 3,356 patients have recovered.

In Oman, the Health Ministry reported 322 new cases, raising the overall count to 4,341, including 17 fatalities and 1,303 recoveries.

In Lebanon, the country’s Health Ministry said the number of cases in the country has reached 886 while a total of 236 people have recovered.

After appearing in Wuhan, China late last year, the virus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

More than 4.38 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with over 298,180 deaths and more than 1.56 million recoveries.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz from Ankara