CAIRO, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's COVID-19 cases approached 340,000 on Friday. Meanwhile, Iraq set a new record in daily coronavirus infections with 4,013 new cases.
Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East region, reported 2,501 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 338,825.
The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 19,331 in Iran, up by 169 in the past 24 hours. A total of 293,811 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 3,956 still in critical condition.
In Iraq, the total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 168,290 after the highest 4,013 daily new cases were added.
The country also reported 68 more deaths and 2,921 recovered cases, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 5,709 and the total recoveries to 120,129.
Saudi Arabia announced 1,383 new cases and 35 more deaths, raising the tally of confirmed cases to 295,902 and the death toll to 3,338.
The kingdom also reported 2,566 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 262,959.
In Turkey, the total number of COVID-19 cases rose to 246,861 with 1,226 new infections, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.
The death toll from the virus in the country increased to 5,934 after 22 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, Koca said, adding 923 more patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 228,980.
The minister warns of a spike in COVID-19 cases in risk groups as the number of severe patients rose to 656 in Turkey.
In Qatar, 251 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, increasing the total number to 114,532, including 190 deaths and 111,258 recoveries.
Israel reported 1,258 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 91,080.
The death toll of the virus in Israel increased to 665 while the recoveries rose to 66,965.
Earlier on the day, Israel's Corona Cabinet approved regulations creating uniformity in rules on gatherings, taking effect on Sunday. Gatherings of up to 30 people will be permitted in open spaces.
In addition, in indoor places of up to 80 square meters, the limit will be 10 people, while in larger indoor areas up to 20 people will be permitted to gather.
Oman's Ministry of Health announced 212 new infections, raising the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 82,743, including 557 deaths and 77,427 recoveries.
Kuwait reported 699 new cases, bringing the country's total number of infections to 75,185, of whom 494 have died and 66,740 recovered.
In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 39,241 after 1,306 new infections were reported, which included 611 fatalities and 27,644 recoveries.
The Palestinian minister of health reported 531 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally of infections in the Palestinian territories to 21,056, including 12,796 recoveries and 116 deaths.
In Gaza, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health announced one new coronavirus case, raising the total number of infections to 82, which included 72 recoveries and one death.
In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 334 to 8,045, while the death toll went up by two to 94.
Libya's total infections reached 7,050 after 439 new COVID-19 cases were added, including 816 recoveries and 135 deaths.
The Syrian Health Ministry said 83 new coronavirus cases were reported in government-controlled areas, taking the tally of infections to 1,515. Enditem
