CAIRO, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran's COVID-19 cases surpassed 312,000 on Monday; Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said no coronavirus cases were reported at the holy sites during this year's Hajj.
Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East region, reported 2,598 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 312,035.
Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that COVID-19 has so far claimed the lives of 17,405 Iranians, up by 215 in the past 24 hours.
Besides, 270,228 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 4,104 remain in critical condition.
Saudi Arabia announced on Monday 1,258 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the accumulated infections to 280,093, while the death toll reached 2,949 with 32 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.
Saudi health authorities also said no coronavirus cases were reported at the holy sites during this year's Hajj.
Turkey reported 995 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the total diagnosed cases to 233,851, while 19 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,747.
The number of coronavirus cases in Israel has reached 74,430, with 1,615 new cases, while the number of death cases increased to 546, with 10 new deaths.
Earlier on Monday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a meeting of the state's Corona Cabinet to discuss the steps needed to reduce the scope of the spread of the coronavirus in Israel.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu directed that a proposal on reducing contacts and lowering the number of cases should be tabled with the Corona Cabinet within 48 hours.
Egypt on Monday reported 157 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 94,640, while 23 new deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 4,888.
The Iraqi Health Ministry recorded on Monday 2,735 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 131,886.
It also reported 66 fatalities during the day, a figure that has been gradually decreasing over the past days, raising the death toll from the virus to 4,934.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday announced 164 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 61,163, while the death toll remains 351.
The Qatari health ministry on Monday announced 215 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 111,322, while the death toll remains 177.
Kuwait on Monday reported 388 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 68,299 and the death toll to 461.
Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Monday by 177 cases to 5,062 while death toll went up by three to 65.
Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan announced that the cabinet may extend restriction measures for 15 additional days if cases continue to increase in the coming days.
Morocco registered 659 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the tally of infections in the North African country to 26,196, while the death toll from the virus rose by 19 to 401 in the last 24 hours.
Palestine recorded on Monday 244 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 16,024, while the death toll remains 87. Enditem
