Coronavirus cases, deaths rise in Gulf states

ANKARA

Health authorities in three Gulf countries confirmed new fatalities and infections from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

In a statement, Qatar's Health Ministry said one person had died from COVID-19, raising the nationwide death toll to 16.

It said the total number of cases climbed to 37,097 after 1,491 new infections were registered.

Another 966 people have recovered, pushing the total number to 6,600.

In Kuwait, the death toll reached 124 after three COVID-19 patients died over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said.

A ministry statement said a further 804 cases were reported, raising the overall count to 17,568, including 4,885 recoveries.

Bahrain’s Health Ministry also confirmed 311 new cases, bringing the total to 7,843, while recoveries rose by 370 to reach 3,344.

The death toll in the country now stands at 12.

After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 188 countries and regions. The US, Russia, and Europe are currently the worst-hit regions.

More than 4.92 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 323,800 worldwide and over 1.7 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz from Ankara