UPDATE 2 - Coronavirus continues spreading in Arab countries

UPDATES WITH DEATH TOLLS, NUMBER OF CASES, ADDS FIGURES FROM ALGERIA, IRAQ, BAHRAIN, LEBANON, JORDAN

By Safiye Karabacak, Gulsen Topcu, Serdar Bitmez, Said Ibicioglu, Halime Afra Aksoya and Ali Semerci

ISTANBUL/RABAT/CAIRO/RIYADH (AA) - Health authorities in several Arab countries confirmed new cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

In Qatar, the Health Ministry said that over the past 24 hours, two more deaths were reported, raising the death toll to six.

The number of infections rose to 2,057 after 225 new cases were confirmed, while 150 patients recovered, the ministry said.

In Tunisia, the number of confirmed cases climbed to 596 with 22 more cases recorded.

Health authorities in war-battered Libya recorded one new coronavirus case, raising the total to 19.

In Egypt, seven more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 85.

Another 149 cases were also recorded, bringing the total to 1,322, while 259 people recovered from the virus.

In Palestine, the Health Ministry said that one more person tested positive for the virus in the occupied West Bank, bringing the number of total infections to 261.

In Morocco, the death toll rose to 90 after 10 more deaths were recorded, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

The number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 1,184, while recoveries reached 93.

Death toll from coronavirus reached 41 in Saudi Arabia, while the total number of cases rose to 2,795, the Health Ministry announced.

A total of 615 people recovered from the disease so far, it added.

Oman’s Health Ministry confirmed 40 new cases for a current total of 371.

In Kuwait, the Health Ministry said that over the last 24 hours, the number of infections rose to 743 after 78 new cases were confirmed.

In Algeria, 20 more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 193, the Health Ministry said.

It also said that 45 more people tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of infections to 1,468.

Iraq’s Health Ministry said in a statement that the death toll rose to 65, along with 1,122 infections.

Bahrain reported 55 new cases, bringing total number of infections to 881, the Health Ministry said.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry said that over the past 24 hours, seven new cases were reported, raising the total number of infections to 548.

In Jordan, total number of cases rose to 353, after the country confirmed four new infections, along with 138 recoveries so far, Health Minister Saad Jaber told reporters.

Since appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the COVID-19 virus has spread to at least 184 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

More than 1.4 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the global death toll topping 81,000 and over 298,000 recoveries.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan and Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara