KABUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Friday reported 215 new COVID-19 cases within the past 24 hours, taking the total cases to 3,778.
The ministry said in a statement that four COVID patients were discharged from hospitals across the country during the period, bringing to 472 the number of patients who recovered from the disease.
Three COVID patients died since early Thursday, bringing the death toll to 109.
Earlier in the day, Afghan health authorities confirmed that Public Health Minister Firuzuddin Firuz tested positive for the coronavirus.
To contain the pandemic, the Afghan government has put big cities including Kabul under quarantine since late March, calling on people to remain at home.
In a latest effort to support the COVID-19 response, the government has extended the quarantine for a third time for a further 21 days which is expected to end on May 30. Enditem