Saudi Arabia: Death toll from COVID-19 rises to 1,698

By Mohammed Yahya Ahmad Mohammed and Ali Semerci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Saudi Arabia confirmed on Wednesday 49 more deaths from the novel coronavirus.

A Health Ministry statement said 3,402 new infections were registered in the past 24 hours.

The Kingdom's tally stands at 194,225 cases, including 1,698 deaths and 132,760 recoveries.

The pandemic has claimed more than 512,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in Wuhan, China last December. The US, Brazil, Russia and India are currently the worst-hit countries.

More than 10.5 million cases have been reported worldwide, while over 5.38 million people have recovered, according to the figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara