UPDATE 2 - Coronavirus tally rises in 6 Arab countries

EDITS THROUGHOUT, UPDATES WITH FIGURES FROM ALGERIA, LEBANON, HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Mohamed Abdelghaffar, Ali Jawad, Khaled Mejdoup, Wassim Samih Seifeddine and Hacer Baser

ANKARA/BEIRUT (AA) - Health authorities in Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Algeria confirmed new cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

Kuwait's Health Ministry said it recorded 28 new cases, taking the total to 317.

Seven more COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals in the country, raising the number of recoveries to 80.

In Lebanon, the Health Ministry announced 16 new cases that brought the total to 479, with seven patients in critical condition.

The death toll in the country reached 14 after authorities confirmed two more fatalities.

Six more people were discharged from hospitals, raising the number of recoveries to 43.

Iraqi authorities reported one death from the virus and nine new cases. The death toll reached 51 and the number of cases rose to 804.

In Saudi Arabia, the Health Ministry announced 157 new cases, taking the tally to 1,720. Six fatalities were also recorded, which raised the death toll to 16.

Morocco's Health Ministry confirmed a new virus-related death, raising the death toll to 37, while total coronavirus cases rose to 638 after 21 more people tested positive.

Algeria's Health Ministry confirmed 14 more fatalities due to the coronavirus, including a parliamentarian, raising the death toll to 58.

A total of 61 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the country so far.

Since appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 180 countries and regions, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Over 905,200 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll above 45,300, and more than 190,700 recoveries.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat and Zehra Nur Duz