Saudi Arabia: Coronavirus cases top 108,500

By Yassine Aydi and Hacer Baser

ISTANBUL (AA) - Saudi Arabia reported on Tuesday 37 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, taking the total number to 783.

A further 3,288 people also tested positive for the virus, raising the overall count to 108,571, the country’s Health Ministry said in a statement.

Some 76,339 people have recovered and discharged from hospitals so far.

The kingdom is now among the 15 worst-affected countries from the disease.

Authorities last week announced a renewed two-week lockdown in Jeddah to prevent a new outbreak in the city.

The government has declared a curfew from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time (1200-0300GMT), and suspended daily prayers in mosques across the commercial hub.

Mosques in Saudi Arabia reopened in late May after staying closed for nearly two months as part of measures to curb the virus spread.

-Situation in Iraq

Iraq's health authorities reported 22 more virus-linked deaths and 787 new infections.

With the new figures, Iraq's death toll has risen to 392, and the case count to 14,268, along with 5,831 recoveries.

The government's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety on Sunday extended the nationwide curfew till June 13.

It also decided to impose a partial curfew between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. local time (1500-0200GMT) from June 14.

The ban on all gatherings in all their forms, and travel within provinces also remains in place.

Parks, cafes, cinemas, malls, sport centers, private teaching institutes, swimming pools and shops remain closed, except for food stores, bakeries and pharmacies.

Restaurants also stay closed, except for home delivery services.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara