Israel confirms more than 1,600 new virus cases

JERUSALEM

Israel on Friday confirmed 1,674 new cases of the novel coronavirus and two fatalities.

According to the Health Ministry, the total number of cases in the country has risen to 80,431, including 578 deaths and 55,274 recoveries since the virus was first detected on Feb. 21.

Since appearing in China last December, the virus has spread to at least 188 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.

More than 19.11 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with over 715,100 deaths, and nearly 11.58 million recoveries.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat