Coronavirus Watch in Mideast: Iran's COVID-19 cases exceed 225,000; Saudi Arabia reports nearly 4,000 daily new cases for consecutive days

• Iran's COVID-19 cases up to 225,205 with 10,670 deaths;
• Saudi Arabia reports 3,943 new cases, 186,436 in total;
• Daily cases top 1,000 in Turkey, Egypt and Iraq;
• Israel tightens restrictions over COVID-19 morbidity rise.

Iran, the hardest-hit country by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East region, reported 2,536 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 225,205.

The pandemic has so far claimed the lives of 10,670 in Iran, up by 162 in the past 24 hours.

A total of 186,180 patients have recovered in Iran while 3,037 remain in critical condition.

In the meantime, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey climbed to 198,613 after 1,374 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.

The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 5,115 after 18 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 1,214 more patients recovered, raising the total recoveries to 171,809.

Turkish president announced that the country will extend a wage support system covering workers whose working hours are reduced by their employers, and a financial aid program for low-income families for one more month to ease the impact of the pandemic.

People walk through a disinfection booth before attending the Friday prayers in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)

Saudi Arabia announced 3,943 new cases and 48 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 186,436 and the death toll to 1,599.

The kingdom also reported 2,363 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 127,118.

In Qatar, 693 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 95,106, of whom 113 have died and 80,170 recovered.

Egypt's coronavirus cases reached 66,754 after 1,566 new infections were added.

A worker sprays disinfectant on a street in Cairo, Egypt, on June 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 83 more deaths and 412 cases of recoveries, increasing the death toll to 2,872 and the total recoveries to 17,951.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 449 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, raising the tally of infections to 48,246 and the death toll to 314.

The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE increased to 37,076 after 665 more fully recovered.

Iraq confirmed 1,749 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 47,151.

The country also reported 83 fatalities and 1,852 recovered cases from the coronavirus during the day, bringing the death toll in Iraq to 1,839 and the total recoveries to 22,974.

Kuwait reported 582 new cases, increasing the country's total number of infections to 45,524, of whom 350 have died and 36,313 recovered.

The country will resume commercial flights at Kuwait International Airport from Aug. 1 under a three-stage plan, the first of which will be at a maximum of 30 percent capacity.

Oman's Ministry of Health announced 910 new cases of infections, raising the tally in the country to 39,060, including 169 deaths and 22,422 recoveries.

Israel reported 686 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since April 2, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 24,441.

The deaths from the virus in Israel increased by one to 319 while the recoveries rose to 17,218.

It is worth noting that the number of active cases in Israel rose to 6,904, the highest since April 30.

On the same day, Israel's Corona Cabinet ministers unanimously voted on reimposing restrictions to limit gatherings following the recent high morbidity figures.

Israeli high school students wearing face masks take part in the graduation exam amid the COVID-19 pandemic in central Israeli city of Modiin, June 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Gil Cohen Magen)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Israel Katz also announced an aid package worth 2 billion new shekels (580 million U.S. dollars) to help the businesses affected by the coronavirus.

Algeria said that 298 new cases of infections were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of infections to 13,571, while the death toll hit 905 and the recoveries reached 9,674.

In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 12,290 after 238 new cases were added, which included 225 fatalities and 8,833 recoveries.

Palestine reported 195 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 2,443, including 621 recoveries and eight deaths.

In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by five to 1,745, while the death toll remained unchanged at 34.

Tunisia registered three new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 1,172. A total of 1,029 patients have recovered in the country while 50 deaths were reported.

Jordan registered seven more infections, raising the total coronavirus cases to 1,128, including nine deaths and 867 recoveries.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 1,128 after 10 new cases were added.

The number of recoveries in the government-controlled areas, including the southern port city of Aden, increased to 432 and the death toll climbed to 304.

Syria reported 13 new COVID-19 infections, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 269 in the country including 102 recoveries and nine deaths.