Roundup: Turkey's COVID-19 cases surge to 1,928,165; Israel to launch coronavirus vaccination campaign next week
Cairo - Turkey's total COVID-19 cases reached 1,928,165 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Israel will launch coronavirus vaccination campaign on Sunday. Turkey reported on Wednesday 29,718 COVID-19 cases, including 4,893 symptomatic patients. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 240 to 17,121, while the total recoveries climbed to 1,691,113 after 29,922 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours. The Turkish health ministry started to open "COVID-19 Monitoring Centers" for the control and follow-up of the health status of patients who have had novel coronavirus infection.
The coronavirus patients will be monitored for at least two years at these centers, and possible health problems related to the infection will be intervened early, the health ministry said on Wednesday in a written statement. Two of those facilities were already launched in the capital Ankara and the northwestern province of Eskisehir and more will be opened in 24 provinces. Iran's Health Ministry reported 7,603 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections to 1,131,077.
It also reported 213 new deaths, taking the death toll to 52,883. A total of 844,430 people have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals, while 5,678 remain in intensive care units in Iran. Israel's health ministry reported 3,690 daily new cases on Wednesday evening, bringing the total infections to 364,320, while 17 new deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 3,031. Israel's prime minister, president, and military chief will get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 next week, their offices said on Wednesday. In a video statement from his quarantine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will get the jab on Saturday evening, a day after the end of the five-day isolation he entered following a meeting with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. The 71-year-old prime minister said he had requested to be the first Israeli to get vaccinated "to set an example and convince (the Israeli citizens) that vaccination is possible and should be done." Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the President's House said in a statement that President Reuven Rivlin will receive the vaccine on Sunday at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.
Also on Wednesday, a health ministry committee said that medical personnel will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by the staff of retirement homes and people over 60. After that, people with background conditions, such as diabetes, lung diseases, and immunosuppressed patients, will be vaccinated. Later, the rest of the population could be vaccinated. The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 1,553 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 578,916. The ministry also reported 22 new deaths and 1,766 more recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,636 and the total recoveries to 513,405. Meanwhile, the ministry decided on Wednesday to ban Christmas celebration to prevent further spread of infections and warned that it might re-impose a partial or full curfew if the COVID-19 infections increased in the country.
The ministry said that it has been in control of the epidemiological situation during the past period and urged citizens to adhere to health-protective measures, especially since the winter has begun and infections may increase again. Kuwait reported 261 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections to 146,971, while the death toll remained at 913. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 310 more patients, taking the total recoveries to 142,909. The Omani health ministry on Wednesday announced 116 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate to 126,835. Meanwhile, 231 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 118,736, while five others reportedly died, pushing the tally up to 1,480. The Qatari health ministry on Wednesday announced 145 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 141,417.
Meanwhile, 123 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 139,042, while the fatalities increased by one to 242. Morocco announced on Wednesday 3,351 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the North African country to 406,970. The number of recoveries from the coronavirus in Morocco increased to 366,835 after 3,924 more were added, while the death toll rose by 38 to 6,749. Palestinian health ministry recorded 26 new deaths and 2,525 new COVID-19 cases in the Palestinian territories, taking the death toll to 1,156 and the overall infections to 131,037.
The coronavirus patients will be monitored for at least two years at these centers, and possible health problems related to the infection will be intervened early, the health ministry said on Wednesday in a written statement. Two of those facilities were already launched in the capital Ankara and the northwestern province of Eskisehir and more will be opened in 24 provinces. Iran's Health Ministry reported 7,603 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total infections to 1,131,077.
It also reported 213 new deaths, taking the death toll to 52,883. A total of 844,430 people have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals, while 5,678 remain in intensive care units in Iran. Israel's health ministry reported 3,690 daily new cases on Wednesday evening, bringing the total infections to 364,320, while 17 new deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 3,031. Israel's prime minister, president, and military chief will get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 next week, their offices said on Wednesday. In a video statement from his quarantine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will get the jab on Saturday evening, a day after the end of the five-day isolation he entered following a meeting with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. The 71-year-old prime minister said he had requested to be the first Israeli to get vaccinated "to set an example and convince (the Israeli citizens) that vaccination is possible and should be done." Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the President's House said in a statement that President Reuven Rivlin will receive the vaccine on Sunday at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.
Also on Wednesday, a health ministry committee said that medical personnel will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by the staff of retirement homes and people over 60. After that, people with background conditions, such as diabetes, lung diseases, and immunosuppressed patients, will be vaccinated. Later, the rest of the population could be vaccinated. The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 1,553 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 578,916. The ministry also reported 22 new deaths and 1,766 more recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,636 and the total recoveries to 513,405. Meanwhile, the ministry decided on Wednesday to ban Christmas celebration to prevent further spread of infections and warned that it might re-impose a partial or full curfew if the COVID-19 infections increased in the country.
The ministry said that it has been in control of the epidemiological situation during the past period and urged citizens to adhere to health-protective measures, especially since the winter has begun and infections may increase again. Kuwait reported 261 new COVID-19 cases, raising the tally of infections to 146,971, while the death toll remained at 913. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 310 more patients, taking the total recoveries to 142,909. The Omani health ministry on Wednesday announced 116 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate to 126,835. Meanwhile, 231 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 118,736, while five others reportedly died, pushing the tally up to 1,480. The Qatari health ministry on Wednesday announced 145 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 141,417.
Meanwhile, 123 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 139,042, while the fatalities increased by one to 242. Morocco announced on Wednesday 3,351 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the North African country to 406,970. The number of recoveries from the coronavirus in Morocco increased to 366,835 after 3,924 more were added, while the death toll rose by 38 to 6,749. Palestinian health ministry recorded 26 new deaths and 2,525 new COVID-19 cases in the Palestinian territories, taking the death toll to 1,156 and the overall infections to 131,037.