TRIPOLI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Thursday reported 853 new COVID-19 cases, taking the nationwide count to 65,440 with 38,110 recoveries and 910 deaths.
The center received a total of 3,384 suspected samples over the past 24 hours, of which 853 tested positive, it said in a statement, adding that seven more deaths were reported.
Khalifa Al-Bakoush, the head of the Scientific Advisory Committee to Combat COVID-19 Pandemic, told a press conference here on Thursday that COVID-19 infections in the country have been increasing recently due to public gatherings in violation of the committee's recommendations.
The committee aims to increase daily tests to 10,000, urging people to commit to the precautionary measures to avoid infections, Al-Bakoush added.
Since the first case was reported in March, Libyan authorities have taken a series of precautionary measures against the pandemic, including closing the country's borders, shutting down schools and mosques, banning public gatherings and imposing a curfew. Enditem
