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Iran on Thursday launched a national plan to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak, as its death toll climbed above 100. Across the Middle East, several countries confirmed new cases of COVID-19, while Palestine reported its first seven cases.
Iranian Minister of Health and Medical Education Saeed Namaki said that, under the National Mobilization Plan to Combat COVID-19, Iran will gather all medical and health institutions as well as the Basij (volunteer) forces under his ministry for mobilization to deal with the virus' spread.
Those who have suspected symptoms of COVID-19 infection will be tested at the medical centers, and if confirmed, they will receive instructions and medication while quarantined in their homes. If a patient fails to recover, he/she will be hospitalized for further treatment.
Iran, which is the hardest-hit country in the region by the epidemic, launched the plan as the number of confirmed cases of virus infection and death toll kept rising.
Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education announced on Thursday that the death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to 107, up from 92 on Wednesday. The total number of confirmed cases of infection increased to 3,513, up from 2,922.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government extended the closure of all schools and universities until March 19, which is the end of the current Iranian year, due to the worsening situation.
Elsewhere in the region, new cases of COVID-19 were reported by several countries on Thursday.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) declared that seven Palestinians have been infected with COVID-19 in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, which are the first such cases in Palestine.
The seven, all workers of a hotel in Bethlehem, were infected during contacts with a group of Greek tourists who stayed in the hotel on Feb. 23-27, PA Health Minister Mai Kaileh told a press conference. Some of the tourists were tested positive for COVID-19 after they returned home.
Palestinian authorities declared a state of emergency in Bethlehem, by closing all educational facilities, churches (mainly the Nativity Church) and mosques in the city and nearby towns for 14 days.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Health Ministry announced three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 38, including three deaths.
Two of the cases were detected in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, and the third in the eastern province of Wasit, the ministry said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia also announced three new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to five, the official Saudi News Agency reported.
Among the three cases are a Saudi couple as the husband, who was tested positive after return from Iran via Kuwait, infected his wife. The third case is a Saudi man who returned from Iran via Bahrain with the first two confirmed cases in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia warned on Thursday its citizens against travelling to Iran, while demanding those who visited Iran report to the health ministry immediately upon return.
In Kuwait, Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced two more COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total number of confirmed cases to 58. It also announced the first recovery of a coronavirus patient, a 34-year-old man.
The new cases involved two Kuwaiti women who recently returned from Iran.
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said on Thursday that Kuwait is pleased to see the progress in China's fight against COVID-19, believing that China will win a complete victory.
In a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Li Minggang, Sheikh Ahmad said that Kuwait is willing to strengthen its cooperation with China and learn from China's experience to jointly tackle the challenges.
In Cairo, Egypt announced the third case of COVID-19 in the country, who is the first Egyptian citizen infected with the virus. The first two COVID-19 cases in Egypt were foreigners.
"The case is a 44-year-old Egyptian citizen returning from Serbia who had transited via France for 12 hours," Egyptian Health Ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement.
In Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed one new case of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Lebanon to 16.
The new case is a woman coming from the United Kingdom, the ministry said.
In Rabat, Morocco's Ministry of Health announced the second confirmed case of COVID-19, a Moroccan woman who recently arrived from Italy. She was confirmed with the infection at the Pasteur Institute in Casablanca.
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, Morocco has cancelled several major international events, while all football matches are required to be played behind closed doors.
