Virus cases, casualties rise in Eurasia, Central Asia

By Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov, Ruslan Rehimov and Dmitri Chirciu

NUR SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AA) - More cases of the novel coronavirus and fatalities related to the disease were reported in several Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Thursday.

- Moldova

The nationwide death toll reached to 1,170 with 11 more fatalities reported over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Confirming another 622 infections that brought the total to 44,983, the ministry added that 33,239 have recovered from the virus, so far.

- Belarus

The case count in Belarus reached 74,987 with 224 cases over the past day.

The death toll has reached 771, with four more fatalities.

A total of 72,967 patients have so far recovered in the country, while 1,249 patients are still under treatment.

- Uzbekistan

As many as 242 new virus cases brought Uzbekistan's tally to 49,627.

Two more fatalities raised the death toll to 413, while recoveries rose to 45,970, according to the Health Ministry.

It added that there were currently 3,244 active cases.

- Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan reported 119 more infections, bringing the total to 38,777, including 571 fatalities and 36,289 recoveries.

Health professionals in the country have so far conducted 1.03 million tests.

- Tajikistan

Tajikistan reported 43 more cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, raising the overall count to 9,214, including 73 deaths.

A total of 7,988 patients have recovered so far, while 1,153 remain under treatment.

- Worldwide

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 942,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since it originated in China last December. The US, India and Brazil are currently the worst-hit countries.

Over 29.92 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries exceeding 20.35 million, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut