UPDATES WITH MORE COUNTRIES, CHANGES DECK, HEADLINE AND LEDE
By Ruslan Rehimov
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) - Coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to rise across Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Thursday.
- Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani health authorities announced that the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country had reached 14,852 with 547 new cases in the past 24 hours.
More than 449,235 tests have been conducted so far, while around 6,000 people remain under medical treatment.
- Ukraine
The number of COVID-19 cases in Ukraine crossed 40,000, with a record 994 more people testing positive over the past 24 hours.
According to the health minister, the country’s tally stands at 40,008, of which 17,758 patients have recovered.
Sixteen more fatalities were recorded since Wednesday, raising the death toll to 1,067.
- Belarus
The number of novel coronavirus cases in Belarus climbed by 437 over the past day, reaching 60,382.
The country confirmed five more deaths as the toll became 367, according to health officials.
A total of 41,448 people have recovered so far.
The country has conducted more than 900,000 tests so far.
- Moldova
Confirming 375 new cases including 30 health workers, Moldova announced that the total in the Eastern European country had risen to 15,453.
Its death toll rose by seven to 502, according to health authorities.
A total of 8,599 people have recovered from coronavirus so far in the country.
- Armenia
Armenia confirmed 771 new cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 22,488.
The country’s death toll rose by 11 to 397, according to health authorities.
A total of 10,625 patients remain under treatment, while 11,335 have recovered to date.
The landlocked country has done nearly 103,000 tests so far.
- Kazakhstan
The number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan climbed by 520 over the past day, reaching 19,285.
The death toll stands at 136, while nearly 12,000 people have recovered.
The country has done over 1.2 million tests to date.
Additionally, Health Minister Yeljan Birtanov, who had been previously tested positive for COVID-19, was removed from his post and replaced by deputy health minister Aleksey Tsoy.
- Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan reported a record 228 new virus cases on Thursday, pushing the overall count to 3,954, including 2,112 recoveries.
One more fatality brought the country’s death toll to 43.
- Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, 143 more people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total to 7,087, including 20 deaths and 4,724 recoveries.
The Central Asian country has carried out 850,000 coronavirus tests so far.
Nearly 2,350 patients are still under treatment, authorities said.
- Georgia
Georgia reported three new coronavirus cases, bringing the overall count to 920, including 14 deaths and 776 recoveries.
- Global situation
Nearly 9.5 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in 188 countries and regions since the virus emerged in China last December.
The US, Russia, Brazil, and India are currently the hardest-hit countries in the world.
The pandemic has claimed more than 484,100 lives worldwide, while recoveries are over 4.78 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University