CAIRO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran reported 4,616 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 517,835. Meanwhile, the Israeli government decided to partially lift the nationwide lockdown on Oct. 18.
The pandemic has so far claimed 29,605 lives in Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, up by 256 in the past 24 hours, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
A total of 418,054 people in Iran have recovered from the disease, while 4,671 remained in intensive care units, she added.
Israel reported 1,701 new COVID-19 cases and 29 more deaths, increasing the tally of infections to 300,201 and the death toll to 2,127. The total number of recoveries rose by 5,515 to 257,226.
Israel's special cabinet for handling the COVID-19 decided on Thursday to partially lift a month-long lockdown on Sunday, by easing some of the restrictions.
Under the decision, the restriction limiting residents to a 1,000-meter radius of their homes will be lifted. Kindergartens and businesses that do not attend clients will be reopened, but schools and other businesses would still be closed. Restaurants would be allowed to take only take-away orders.
Gatherings of more than 20 will still be prohibited and local lockdowns in "red" cities with high morbidity rates might be imposed, the Israeli government said.
Turkey confirmed 1,693 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total number of infections in the country to 342,143.
A total of 66 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 9,080, while the tally of recoveries rose by 1,311 to 299,679, the Turkish Health Ministry announced.
Saudi Arabia reported 472 new COVID-19 cases and 19 more deaths, leading the total number of infections to 341,062 and the death count to 5,127. The tally of recoveries in the kingdom surged to 327,327, up by 507 from a day ago.
Morocco announced 3,317 new COVID-19 cases and 46 more deaths, taking the tally of infections in the North African country to 163,650 and the death toll to 2,772.
The total number of recoveries from the coronavirus in Morocco increased to 136,036 after 2,077 more were added, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Jordan, which has witnessed a rapid surge in COVID-19 infections recently, reported 2,459 new cases and 25 deaths on Thursday, increasing the tally of confirmed cases to 33,009 and the death toll to 282.
Lebanon registered the highest daily spike with 1,550 new COVID-19 infections, which took the tally to 58,745, while the death toll went up by two to 501.
Mohamad Haidar, advisor to the health minister, said public and private hospitals are adding beds to their emergency units to receive more COVID-19 patients amid a continuous increase in the infections.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday announced 1,398 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, raising the total confirmed number in the country to 111,437 and the death toll to 452.
The total count of recoveries in the UAE rose by 1,666 to 103,325, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention said.
Kuwait reported 746 new COVID-19 cases and eight more deaths, pushing up the tally of infections to 114,015 and the death toll to 684 in the country.
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 610 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 105,846.
The Omani Health Ministry announced 520 new COVID-19 infections, taking the total confirmed cases in the sultanate to 108,296. The tally of recoveries climbed by 321 to 94,229, while the death toll increased by eight to 1,069.
Palestine recorded 442 new coronavirus infections and eight more deaths, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 57,441 and the death toll to 471.
Palestine currently has 6,755 active cases, including 4,366 cases in the Gaza Strip.
The Qatari health ministry confirmed 200 new COVID-19 infections and two more deaths, raising the total confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 128,803 and the death toll to 222.
Algeria reported 193 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total tally of infections to 53,777, the Ministry of Health said.
The ministry also announced nine new fatalities and 127 recoveries from the virus, raising the country's death toll to 1,836 and the total number of recoveries to 37,730. Enditem
