UPDATE - Coronavirus tally rises in 5 Arab countries

UPDATES WITH FIGURES FROM SAUDI ARABIA, MOROCCO

By Mohamed Abdelghaffar, Ali Jawad and Khaled Mejdoup

ANKARA (AA) - Health authorities in Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco confirmed new cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry said it recorded 28 new cases, taking the total to 317.

Ministry spokesperson Abdullah al-Sanad said in a press release that seven people have recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries to 80.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry announced 16 new cases to bring the total to 479, including seven in critical conditions.

On Tuesday, Lebanon recorded a new death from the coronavirus, raising the total to 12.

Iraqi authorities reported one death from the virus and nine new cases. The death toll reached 51 and the number of cases rose to 804.

In Saudi Arabia, the Health Ministry announced 157 new cases, taking the tally to 1,720. Six fatalities were recorded, as well, which raised the death toll to 16.

Morocco's Health Ministry confirmed a new virus-related death, raising the death toll to 37, while total coronavirus cases rose to 638 after 21 people tested positive for the virus.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 180 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Over 883,200 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll surpassing 44,100, and more than 185,300 recoveries.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat