CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Egypt started on Thursday vaccinating the elderly people and patients with chronic diseases against COVID-19. Meanwhile, Palestine extended its coronavirus-related state of emergency by a month following an increase in COVID-19 cases.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Health Minister Hala Zayed were present at one of Cairo medical centers to witness the two categories of citizens receiving their first shot of the anti-coronavirus vaccine.
Madbouly noted that the Health Ministry has launched a website to register those who would like to be vaccinated, adding that the government will work to increase the number of recipients of the vaccines.
In Palestine, a decree was issued by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to extend the state of emergency for one month, effective immediately, so to give the government enough power to tackle the rise in coronavirus cases.
Palestine on Thursday recorded 2,300 new coronavirus cases and 18 more deaths, raising its total infections to 216,802 and its death toll to 2,314.
In Turkey, the tally of confirmed coronavirus cases climbed to 2,746,158 after 11,322 new infections, including 685 with symptoms, were detected, according to Turkish Health Ministry.
The COVID-19 death toll in Turkey surged by 68 to 28,839, while its total recoveries increased by 7,873 to 2,601,137, the ministry said.
So far, a total of 7.4 million people in Turkey have been vaccinated, including 2.25 million who have received two doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine.
Iran reported 8,404 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide infections to 1,665,103.
The pandemic has so far claimed 60,431 lives in Iran, up by 78 in the past 24 hours, while a total of 1,420,958 people have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals.
Iraq reported 5,043 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total nationwide infections to 713,994. It also reported 24 new deaths, raising the death toll to 13,507, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 3,396 to 650,015.
In Israel, 3,817 new COVID-19 cases were reported, raising the total tally in the country to 792,686. The death toll from the COVID-19 in Israel rose to 5,821 after 19 new fatalities were added, while the total recoveries surged by 4,997 to 745,731.
The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Israel have so far surpassed 4.88 million, or 52.5 percent of its total population.
Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 485,147 after 394 new cases were registered. Meanwhile, Morocco's death toll climbed to 8,669 as 16 more patients died, while its total number of recoveries increased by 508 to 470,933.
A total of 3,820,097 people have received the first vaccine shot in Morocco, including 413,032 who have received the second dose, since the North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of China's Sinopharm vaccines.
Lebanon registered 3,369 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 386,851. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus deaths in Lebanon went up by 53 to 4,919.
Kuwait reported 1,716 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 196,497. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced eight more deaths, taking the death toll to 1,105, while the tally of recoveries nationwide rose by 1,125 to 183,321.
Kuwait's government decided on Thursday to impose a partial curfew, start on Sunday from 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) to 5 a.m., until April 8, as part of its efforts to curb the COVID-19 spread.
The Omani health ministry announced 369 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total confirmed cases to 142,896. The tally of recoveries in Oman rose by 353 to 133,491, while no new death was reported, keeping the tally at 1,583.
In Qatar, 475 new COVID-19 infections were announced, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 165,546. Qatar's tally of recoveries soared by 318 to 155,070, while the total fatalities remained at 260 for the second day running. Enditem
