Virus cases, fatalities climb in Central Asia, Eurasia

NUR SULTAN, Kazakhstan

Coronavirus cases and fatalities continued to rise in Eurasian and Central Asian countries on Wednesday.

Ukraine

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said 1,271 more people tested positive for COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the total count to 77,169.

He said 24 more fatalities raised the death toll up to 1,788, while recoveries increased by 914 to reach 41,527.

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

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan reported 1,062 more virus cases, raising its total to 94,882, as recoveries rose by 1,899 to reach 67,031.

A total of 1,058 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 38,110, including 1,438 fatalities.

Over 29,500 people have recovered from the virus so far, a Health Ministry official said.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s Health Ministry reported 510 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 27,314.

Two more fatalities took the death toll to 165, while recoveries increased by 213 to reach 18,051.

Over 9,000 patients remain hospitalized across the country.

Armenia

Armenia's COVID-19 case count swelled by 288 to reach 39,586.

Two more patients died over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 770, while recoveries are now up to 30,850.

Armenia has administered at least 170,000 coronavirus tests so far, according to official figures.

Georgia

A total of 15 more people tested positive for COVID-19 in Georgia over the past 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The new cases raised the country’s total to 1,238, including 17 fatalities and 974 recoveries.

Worldwide

Across the world, COVID-19 has claimed nearly 701,000 lives in 188 countries and regions since last December.

More than 18.55 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the US, Brazil, India and Russia currently the worst-hit countries, according to figures compiled by the Johns Hopkins University.

The data shows more than half of all patients -- over 11.15 million -- around the globe have recovered so far.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar