Virus cases, fatalities climb in Eurasia, Central Asia

By Anadolu Agency Staff

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) - Coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to rise across Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Wednesday.

- Kazakhstan

In the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, cases rose by 1,685 to reach a total of 75,153 over the past 24 hours.

Recoveries rose by 1,414 to reach 46,790, the Health Ministry said.

The death toll stands at 610 and the treatment of over 27,000 people continues.

Sven-Olov Carlsson, EU ambassador to Kazakhstan, announced that the bloc will provide a €3 million ($3.45 million) financial aid package to the Central Asian countries to help fight against COVID-19.

Kazakhstan expanded strict quarantine measures until Aug. 2.

- Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, as many as 1,108 more people tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the tally to 29,359, including 15,760 recoveries.

To date, a total of 1,123 people have died from COVID-19 and pneumonia in the country.

The country built treatment centers in schools, sport centers and wedding venues since the hospitals do not have enough beds to meet the demand.

- Ukraine

Ukrainian officials reported 829 more cases over the past 24 hours, raising the overall count in the country to 60,995.

Sixteen more fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,534, while recoveries climbed to 33,172, with 973 additions.

The country extended quarantine procedures until July 31 as the virus continues to spread.

As of July 31, the country will divide regions into green, yellow, orange and red regions in line with COVID-19 infections, and will take different measures in regions against the pandemic.

- Armenia

The number of cases rose to 35,693 in the Caucasian country of Armenia, as 439 more people contracted COVID-19 over the past day, according to Health Ministry data.

Sixteen more people died of the virus, raising the toll to 678.

Nearly 150,000 tests have been performed in the country, a total of 24,766 patients have recovered, and the treatment of 10,032 continues.

- Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan, 416 more people contracted the virus, raising the tally to 18,171.

One more fatality brought the toll to 94, while 58 more recoveries over the past 24 hours raised the total to 9,521.

The Health Ministry said over 8,500 people are currently receiving treatment and 84,000 people remain under surveillance.

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development will provide $5.6 million to Uzbekistan to equip hospitals with medical devices in fight against the pandemic, the Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

- Georgia

Twenty-four people contracted COVID-19 in Georgia, bringing the overall count to 2,014. At least 16 virus patients have died, while 907 have recovered so far.

Over 5,700 people have been quarantined.

- Worldwide

Since first appearing in China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions. The US, Brazil, and Russia are currently the countries hardest hit in the world.

The pandemic has killed nearly 617,000 people worldwide, with almost 15 million confirmed cases and over 8.48 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar