CAIRO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's confirmed novel coronavirus cases jumped by 3,186 to 41,495 on Monday. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under quarantine after one of his aides was diagnosed with the virus.
The death toll in Iran from COVID-19 infection rose by 117 to 2,757. So far, 13,911 of the infected people in Iran have recovered, while 3,511 others remained in critical condition.
The latest figures indicated that the deadly virus has shown no signs of slowing down in Iran, which is the worst-hit country in the Middle East despite the government's hard efforts to stem its spread.
Iran's Ministry of Defense launched a mass production line of test kits for the novel coronavirus. At the same time, the government asked its citizens to avoid celebrating the Nature Day, which falls on April 1, in parks and countrysides to prevent the spread of the virus.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday once again lashed out at the U.S. sanctions for doubling the suffering of the Iranian people from the pandemic. "Fighting against coronavirus is a human campaign and disrupting it will be immoral and inhumane," he said.
Turkey, the second hardest-hit country in the Middle East, reported 37 more deaths, raising the death toll to 168, while the total number of infections rose by 1,610 to 10,827.
Turkey imposed quarantine on 39 settlements in 18 provinces, including one town, six neighborhoods and 32 villages, on Monday as part of the measures against the novel coronavirus.
Israel reported 448 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,695, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. Sixteen patients have died while 161 others have recovered so far.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that Netanyahu will go into quarantine as one of his advisors was infected with the coronavirus. But it was announced later Monday that Netanyahu had tested negative for the virus.
Israel's Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon announced a 22.4-billion-U.S.-dollar emergency plan to support the Israeli economy and health system hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. This is the most significant economic program in the history of Israel.
Saudi Arabia reported 154 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 1,453, of whom eight have died and 115 have recovered.
Iraq confirmed 83 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 630. The death toll rose to 46, after four more deaths were added.
Morocco reported 71 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections to 534, while the death toll rose by seven to 33 from Sunday. The number of recoveries increased to 14, after one more recovery was reported on Monday.
Qatar reported 59 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections in the Gulf nation to 693.
Egypt confirmed 47 new cases and one more death from the coronavirus, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 656 and the death toll to 41.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported 41 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 611. The death toll in the UAE rose to five, after two new deaths were added on Monday.
Oman's Ministry of Health announced 12 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 179.
Kuwait reported 11 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 266. Five more patients recovered, raising the country's total recoveries to 72.
Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anas Al-Saleh issued an amnesty allowing residence violators to leave Kuwait during the period of April 1-30 without paying fines. The violators will be provided free tickets for leaving Kuwait.
Jordan reported two more deaths from the coronavirus and nine more cases of infection, raising the death toll to five and the tally of infections to 268.
Lebanon's Health Ministry announced eight new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number to 446, of whom 11 have died and 35 have recovered.
Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced that various public hospitals across the country are ready to receive suspected coronavirus patients.
Syria reported the second death from the coronavirus, which has infected 10 people so far in the war-torn country.
