CAIRO, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 epidemic has claimed 50,016 lives in Iran as of Saturday, and the total confirmed cases hit 1,028,986 in the country, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Meanwhile, Turkey reported 31,896 new COVID-19 cases.
In the past 24 hours, 12,151 new COVID-19 infections and 321 new deaths were reported, said the ministry's spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said at a daily briefing.
As of Saturday, 719,708 COVID-19 patients have recovered or been released from Iranian hospitals, but 5,817 others are currently in critical condition, she added.
Iranian President Hasan Rouhani said the country has witnessed a significant decrease in COVID-19 infection levels, after restrictions were announced two weeks ago.
"Compared with the 160 red zones we had two weeks ago, we have now reduced them to 64 red zones with the efforts and observance from the people," Rouhani said in an online meeting of the National Headquarters for Managing and Fighting the Coronavirus.
However, he warned that seven counties are in the state of ultrared where the infection rate is rising, according to reports.
Turkey reported 31,896 new COVID-19 cases, including 6,128 symptomatic patients, as the total number of symptomatic COVID-19 patients in the country increased to 533,198, its health ministry announced.
The death toll from coronavirus in Turkey rose by 196 to 14,705, while the total recoveries climbed to 427,242 after 4,100 more patients recovered in the last 24 hours.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 1,898 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 562,520.
It also reported 24 new deaths and 1,885 more recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,411 and the total recoveries to 491,657.
A total of 3,639,831 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 30,365 done during the day, according to a ministry statement.
Meanwhile, a separate statement by the ministry warned of a possible increase in infections and deaths from COVID-19 despite the latest daily decline in infections and deaths.
The ministry attributed the anticipated potential increase in infection with the coronavirus to the fact that "there is no scientific evidence confirming that infection with COVID-19 will give long-term immunity," the statement said.
It also said the increase in infections and deaths might occur due to the previous decision to ease restrictions in public areas including the start of the new school year, in addition to the beginning of winter and the expected further drop in temperatures over the coming few weeks.
In Saudi Arabia, 190 new cases were reported, bringing the tally to 358,526. It also registered 14 deaths, raising the death toll to 5,954. The total recoveries increased to 348,562.
Jordan reported 3,160 new cases, taking the tally to 237,513, and 50 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 3,010. The total number of recovered cases reached 182,463.
Israel's Ministry of Health reported 1,564 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally to 343,665.
The number of deaths reached 2,901 with five new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 323 to 314 out of 552 patients hospitalized.
The total recoveries in Israel rose to 327,710, while the active cases stand at 13,054.
On Sunday, the gradual reopening of schools in Israel will be completed with the return to school of seventh to tenth graders.
The opening of schools in Israel began on Nov. 1, with the return of first and second grades, and other classes have since been resumed.
In Morocco, the health authority reported 4,118 new COVID-19 cases, taking the number of infections in the country since March 2 to 376,738.
The death toll rose to 6,184 with 48 new fatalities during the last 24 hours. The total recoveries grew to 327,693.
The Qatari health ministry announced 140 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 139,783.
Meanwhile, 188 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 137,060, while the fatalities remained 239 for the fourth day running.
Kuwait reported 247 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 144,164 and the death toll to 889 in the country.
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 462 more patients, taking the total recoveries to 139,610.
Palestine confirmed 1,422 new cases, taking the total number of infected cases to 109,702, and the total registered death cases hit 905. The number of registered recoveries totaled 83,839. Enditem
