CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Morocco both set a new record in daily increase of COVID-19 cases on Thursday. Meanwhile, Iraq's tally of COVID-19 infections approached the 400,000 mark amid continued resurgence of the pandemic.
The tally of COVID-19 cases in Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, surged to 488,236 after 4,392 new infections were added, while the death toll rose by 230 to 27,888.
So far, 399,300 patients in Iran have recovered from the disease. As the pandemic continued to rage, 26 of 31 Iranian provinces are on red alert for a high risk of infection, while four others at yellow alert level.
Morocco also reported a new record high of 2,929 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, leading the tally to 142,953.
The death toll in Morocco reached 2,486 after 47 more deaths were recorded, the highest daily toll in the North African country. The total number of recoveries surged to 120,257 after 2,133 new ones were added.
The Moroccan government announced on Thursday the extension of the state of health emergency until Nov. 10, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Iraq reported 3,522 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide infections to 394,566, while the death toll rose by 79 to 9,683. The total number of recoveries surged to 323,815 with 4,031 more patients recovering from the disease.
Jawad al-Musawi, a member of the Iraqi Parliamentary Health Committee, warned that a new wave of COVID-19 infections may happen in Iraq in the coming month which could overwhelm the country's health system.
In such case, Iraq may have to return to a partial or full curfew, "which we do not want considering these difficult economic conditions," al-Musawi said.
Turkey announced 1,615 new COVID-19 infections and 58 more deaths on Thursday, raising the total confirmed cases to 330,753 and the death toll to 8,667.
The total number of recoveries increased by 1,398 to 290,352, according to the Turkish Health Ministry.
Saudi Arabia reported 421 new coronavirus cases and 25 more deaths, pushing the tally of COVID-19 cases in the kingdom to 338,132 and the death toll to 4,972. The total recoveries increased to 323,769 with the addition of 561 new recoveries.
Israel reported 3,855 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally of infections to 285,336, while the death count rose by 40 to 1,864.
The Israeli cabinet extended on Thursday the regulations that limit anti-government protests for one week, citing a need to curb the COVID-19 resurgence. Under the regulations, rallies are limited to a 1,000-meter radius of the participants' homes and in groups of no more than 20 people.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday announced 1,089 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 102,929 and the death toll to 438.
At the same time, 1,769 more patients recovered from the virus, taking the tally of recoveries in the UAE to 93,479.
Lebanon reported 1,367 new COVID-19 infections and six more deaths, raising the tally of coronavirus cases to 49,744 and the death toll to 439.
Tunisian Health Ministry on Thursday reported 2,357 new COVID-19 cases and 45 more deaths, raising the total number of infections to 26,899 and the death count to 409.
A 15-day curfew started on Thursday in the capital Tunis, which lasts from 9 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT) to 5 a.m. (04:00 GMT) from Monday to Friday, and from 7 p.m. local time to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Kuwait reported 698 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 109,441 and the death toll to 642. The total recoveries in the country increased by 538 to 101,314.
In Oman, the health ministry announced 664 new COVID-19 infections and nine more deaths, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 104,129 and the death toll to 1,009.
The total number of recoveries climbed to 91,731 after 402 more people recovered during the past 24 hours, the ministry said.
Qatar reported 213 new coronavirus infections and 219 more recoveries, raising the total COVID-19 cases in the Gulf state to 127,394 and the tally of recoveries to 124,327.
The death toll in Qatar remained at 218 for the second consecutive day as no new death was reported, the Qatari Health Ministry said. Enditem
