国际英语新闻:Iran's COVID-19 cases nudge 240,000; Saudi Arabia records 2nd most cases in Mideast

CAIRO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The total number of COVID-19 cases approached 240,000 in Iran on Saturday. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia surpassed Turkey in the tally of coronavirus infections with nearly 206,000 confirmed cases.

Iran, the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reported 2,449 new cases, brining the total number of infections to 237,878.

The country also reported 148 new deaths from the virus, raising the death toll to 11,408. A total of 198,949 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 3,136 still in critical condition.

Saudi Arabia announced 4,128 new cases and 56 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 205,929 and the death toll to 1,858.

The kingdom also reported 2,642 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 143,256.

In the meantime, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey climbed to 204,610 after 1,154 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.

The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 5,206 after 20 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 1,214 patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 179,492.

Koca also warned of an increasing trend in COVID-19 patients in intensive care units of Turkey.

In Qatar, 530 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 99,183, of whom 123 have died and 90,387 recovered.

Egypt's coronavirus cases reached 74,035 after 1,324 new infections were added.

The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 79 more deaths and 413 cases of recoveries, increasing the death toll to 3,280 and the total recoveries to 20,103.

On the same day, Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Hurghada received 899 foreign tourists aboard five flights under precautionary measures as the country has resumed international flights on July 1.

Iraq confirmed 2,334 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 58,354.

The country also reported 106 deaths and 1,477 recovered cases from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll in Iraq to 2,368 and the total recoveries to 31,077.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 716 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 50,857 and the death toll to 321.

The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE increased to 39,857 after 704 more fully recovered.

Kuwait reported 631 new cases, bringing the country's total number of infections to 49,303, of whom 365 have died and 39,943 recovered.

Oman's Ministry of Health announced 1,177 new cases of infections, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 45,106, including 203 deaths and 26,968 recoveries.

Algeria's coronavirus cases climbed to 15,500 after 440 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours, while the death toll hit 946 and the recoveries reached 11,181.

In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 13,822 after 534 new cases were added, which included 232 fatalities and 9,329 recoveries.

Palestine reported 561 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day surge so far, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 4,250, including 637 recoveries and 16 deaths.

In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 25 to 1,855, while the death toll remained unchanged at 35.

Jordan registered three more infections, bringing the total coronavirus cases to 1,150, including 10 deaths and 903 recoveries.