UPDATE - COVID-19 cases keep rising in Eurasia, C.Asia

UPDATES WITH FIGURES FROM AZERBAIJAN, BELARUS, MOLDOVA, TAJIKISTAN; CHANGES HEADLINE

By Aliia Raimbekova, Ruslan Rehimov, and Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AA) - Coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to rise across Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Friday.

- Ukraine

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said 1,453 more people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 78,261.

He said 33 more fatalities raised the death toll to 1,852 while recoveries increased by 531 to reach 43,055.

Stepanov urged the public to strictly follow the government’s COVID-19 restrictions, which have been extended until Aug. 31.

- Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan reported 980 more virus cases, raising the total to 96,922, as recoveries rose by 1,809 to reach the total of 70,680.

A total of 1,159 patients have died in the Central Asian country so far, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

- Kyrgyzstan

Coronavirus infections in Kyrgyzstan have risen to 39,612, including 1,451 fatalities.

The capital Bishkek for the first time has not recorded any deaths from the virus over the past 24 hours.

Over 30,764 people have recovered from the virus so far, a Health Ministry official said.

Turkish Airlines under an agreement with the Kyrgyz government has launched twice-a-week flights to the capital Bishkek.

- Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s Health Ministry reported 494 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 28,809.

Four more fatalities took the death toll to 179, while recoveries increased by 296 to reach 19,587.

The country reported that 68% of the patients have recovered and that 9,043 people are still being treated in hospitals.

- Armenia

Armenia's COVID-19 case count swelled by 166 to reach 39,985.

Five more patients died over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 777, while recoveries are now up to 32,008.

Armenia has administered at least 172,994 coronavirus tests so far, according to official figures.

- Georgia

A total of seven more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Georgia over the past 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry reported on Friday.

The new cases raised the country’s total to 1,254, including 17 fatalities and 994 recoveries.

- Moldova

Moldova reported 362 new infections, bringing the total to 26,990.

Seven more people died of COVID-19 in the country, raising the death toll to 835. A total of 18,918 people have recovered.

- Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan reported 129 fresh cases of the virus, bringing the tally to 33,376. The death toll reached 483 with four new deaths. A total of 29,696 people have so far recovered from the disease.

More than 773,000 tests have been conducted in the country, and a total of 3,197 patients are still receiving medical treatment.

- Belarus

In Belarus, another 111 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus, bringing the total number to 68,614, while the recoveries reached 64,200 and the death toll hit 583 with three more fatalities.

- Tajikistan

Tajikistan’s total number of cases has reached 7,706, with 1,160 still under treatment. A total of 62 people died in the country, while 6,484 have recovered.

The country, meanwhile, announced that schools, universities, and kindergartens, which were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be reopened on Aug. 17.