Coronavirus deaths rise in three Arab states

ANKARA (AA) – Health authorities in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq confirmed new deaths from the novel coronavirus on Monday.

An 81-year-old woman died from the disease in northern Jordan, Muhammad al-Ghazou, the director of King Abdullah University Hospital, said in statements cited by the official Petra news agency.

The new fatality brings Jordan's death toll from the virus to four and more than 250 confirmed infections.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry said a patient in her 80s lost her life to the disease, taking the country's death toll to 11.

A ministry statement said eight new infections were detected on Monday, taking the total coronavirus cases in Lebanon to 446.

In Iraq, two people died from the virus in the southern provinces of Najaf and Wasit, bringing the overall death toll to 43.

Iraqi health authorities have so far reported 555 coronavirus cases and 143 recoveries.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 177 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than 732,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll nearing 34,700, and over 154,600 recoveries.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara