Despite easing lockdown, Middle East remain on high alert amid growing coronavirus cases

DUBAI: Countries in the Middle East have remained on high alert amid the coronavirus pandemic, despite some cities easing lockdown measures to revive local economies.

The holy month of Ramadan ushered in relaxed curfew rules in several cities across the region including in the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan, but government were keen to keep strict health precautions to avoid a new wave of infections.

April 25, 2020 (All times in GMT)

20:47 - Bahrain records 70 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 2,588, as well as 1,160 recoveries and a total of 8 deaths. 

18:00 - The UAE announced on Saturday seven deaths from coronavirus, 532 new cases of the disease and 127 recoveries from it. 

17:50 - Global deaths linked to the coronavirus passed 200,000 on Saturday according to a Reuters tally. 

17:09 - Iraq announced 55 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday. 

16:57 - The death toll in France from the coronavirus has risen by 369 to stand at 22,614, the health ministry said on Saturday.

16:26 - Turkey recorded 2,861 coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, and 106 more people died, taking the death toll to 2,706, Health Ministry data showed on Saturday.

16:10 - Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 415 on Saturday, the smallest daily tally since March 17, the Civil Protection Agency said.
The number of new infections was also the lowest in five days at 2,357 from 3,021 on Friday.

16:03 - Sudan recorded 39 new cases of coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 213.

14:38 - UK health ministry figures showed a further 813 people had died in hospital after contracting COVID-19, pushing the official number of fatalities to 20,319.

14:15 - According to an AFP tally, the virus death toll in Europe tops 120,000.

14:05 - Iranian health officials on Saturday raised fears of a "fresh outbreak" of coronavirus cases in their country, which has paid the deadliest price in the Middle East from the pandemic.

14:00 - Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways is to extend its suspension of scheduled flights to at least May 16.

13:50 - Pakistani doctors have launched a hunger strike on Saturday over their fears of a lack of virus protection.

13:40 - England's COVID-19 hospital death toll rises by 711 to 18,084.

12:54 - Saudi Health Ministry: 1,197 new cases of coronavirus infections recorded and 9 new deaths.

12:45 - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Saturday that there is no evidence that people who test positive for the new coronavirus are immunised and protected against reinfection.

11:07 - Kuwait reports 278 new coronavirus cases, raising total 2,892.

10:37 - Spain reports 378 new coronavirus deaths, 2,944 new cases.

10:33 - Belgium reports 1,032 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 45,325.

10:29 - Qatar records 833 new coronavirus cases, raising total to 8,419.

10:24 - Russia confirms 5,966 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 74,588, and records 66 new coronavirus deaths, raising total to 681.

10:13 - Morocco reports 131 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 3,889.

10:12 - The number of #coronavirus deaths in Iran has reached 5,650.

9:05 - Indonesia reports total number of coronavirus deaths rises to 720: Health ministry.

08:55 – Lebanon's coronavirus deaths has reached 24, after it recorded two new fatalities, health ministry said. The country has also reported eight new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 696.

08:50 – Israel has confirmed 90 new coronavirus patients, raising total to 15,148.

08:45 – Indonesia has reported 720 new cases of coronavirus, taking total to 8,607.

08:40 – Oman has reported 115 new coronavirus cases, bringing total to 1,905.

08:40 – Tokyo has confirmed 103 new cases of coronavirus.

08:00 – The Philippines has reported 17 new cases of the virus.

07:30 – Germany has recorded 2,055 new cases of COVID-19, bringing total number of infections to 152,438.

The total number of deaths in Germany stood at 5,500, with 179 new fatalities recently confirmed.

07:15 – Singapore has reported 618 new cases of coronavirus.

05:35 – The Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) has launched the “Mobile Laboratory Unit” (MLU) that will allow home testing for the elderly and persons with disability, state-run WAM reported

04:35 – Thailand has reported 53 new coronavirus cases, one new death.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/1664721/middle-east