UPDATE - Coronavirus tally rises in 8 Arab countries

UPDATES WITH NEW FIGURES, REVISED HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Ibrahim el-Hazin and Halime Afra Aksoy

ISTANBUL (AA) - Health authorities in eight Arab countries reported new cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

Oman's Health Ministry said 168 more people infected with the COVID-19 virus were registered, raising the total to 2,903, including 13 deaths and 888 recoveries.

In Bahrain, the Health Ministry reported 830 more coronavirus cases, bringing the overall figure to 17,972.

A total of 2,070 patients have recovered from the disease so far, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Tunisia’s Health Ministry confirmed four more coronavirus cases, carrying the total to 1,022.

The ministry said 43 people died of the virus while 482 recovered.

In a statement, Morocco’s Health Ministry said the nationwide death toll rose to 182 as the virus claimed one more life in the country.

The ministry said 163 new cases were detected over the past 24 hours, raising the number of COVID-19 infections to 5,382. A total of 1,969 people recovered from the disease.

In Kuwait, the Health Ministry confirmed two more deaths, bringing the total to 42.

Coronavirus cases rose to 6,289 in the country while the number of recoveries reached 2,219.

In a statement, Yemen’s Health Ministry said one more patient died of the virus, bringing the nationwide death toll to five.

The country reported a total of 22 cases so far.

Separately, Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed nine more coronavirus cases, counting the tally at 750.

It said 213 people recovered from the disease so far.

Since first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus has spread to at least 187 countries and regions, with the US and Europe the hardest-hit areas.

More than 3.68 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll surpassing 258,000 and the recoveries above 1.21 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz and Burak Bir