ISTANBUL

More than 4,000 people were diagnosed Friday with the novel coronavirus in Saudi Arabia, according to the its health ministry. 

Officials said 4,193 new cases were registered in the last 24 hours and the total number of cases climbed to 201,801.

The death toll from COVID-19 reached 1,802 with 50 additional fatalities but recoveries stand at 140,614.

The pandemic has claimed more than 523,560 lives in 188 countries and regions since it originated in China last December.

The US, Brazil, Russia and India are currently the worst-hit countries.

Nearly 11 million COVID-19 cases have been reported globally, with recoveries exceeding 5.8 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University. 

*Writing by Sena Guler