More coronavirus cases confirmed in KSA, Qatar, Bahrain

RIYADH\MANAMA\DOHA

Health authorities in three Middle Eastern countries -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain -- announced on Sunday new coronavirus cases.

Saudi Arabia said 1,088 infections were confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infections to 9,362.

Five virus-linked fatalities were also registered, taking the Kingdom's death tally to 97.

As many as 69 people recovered over that period, raising the total recoveries to 1,398.

In Bahrain, total inflections reached 1,873 after 100 new confirmations. Seven fatalities and 759 recoveries have also been recorded thus far.

Qatar, on the contrary, announced that 440 more people had tested positive for COVID-19. In total, 5,448 have contracted the virus.

Of the total, 518 have regained health, including eight in the last 24 hours.

After originating in China late last year, COVID-19 has spread to at least 185 countries and regions. Europe and the U.S. are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed more than 162,000 people, with total infections exceeding 2.35 million, and recoveries crossing 605,300, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Billions of people are under some form of restriction meant to slow the spread of the virus.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara