ISTANBUL

Health authorities in Iraq confirmed more fatalities and infections due to the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

The Iraqi Health Ministry said 77 people died from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the nationwide death toll to 4,535.

The virus also infected 2,747 more people, bringing the total cases to 115,332, including 81,062 recoveries.

Since originating in China last December, the pandemic has claimed some 655,300 lives in 188 countries and regions.

More than 16.54 million cases have been reported worldwide, while over 9.61 million patients have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara