A policewoman checks a man's body temperature at the entrance of a shopping mall in Ankara, Turkey, on May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)
--Turkey's COVID-19 cases hit 156,827 with 4,340 deaths;
--Chinese medical team in Algeria holds video conference on coronavirus prevention;
--Egypt sees daily record of 29 deaths;
--Israel reports lowest 5 daily new infections.
CAIRO, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's COVID-19 cases on Sunday exceeded 156,000. Meanwhile, Chinese medical experts in Algeria shared with Chinese people in Tunisia the experience in the prevention of the coronavirus via a video conference.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, increased to 156,827 after 1,141 new infections were reported, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.
The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 4,340 after 32 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, he said, adding that 1,092 more patients recovered, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 118,694.
On the same day, Chinese medical experts in Algeria answered questions related to COVID-19 during a video conference which was participated by workers from Chinese companies and Chinese people living in Tunisia.
Members of a Chinese medical team talk with employees of the China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) in Algiers, Algeria, on May 16, 2020. (Xinhua)
At the invitation of the Algerian government, the Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14.
In Iran, the tally of COVID-19 infections reached 135,701 with 2,180 new infections.
The country also reported 58 new deaths from the virus on Sunday, raising the death toll to 7,417. A total of 105,801 coronavirus patients have recovered, with 2,615 still in critical condition.
Saudi Arabia announced 2,399 new cases and 11 more deaths, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 72,560 and the death toll to 390.
The kingdom also reported 2,284 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 43,520.
In Qatar, 1,501 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, bringing the total number to 43,714, of whom 23 have died and 9,170 recovered.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 781 new COVID-19 cases and one more death, raising the tally of infections to 29,485 and the death toll to 245.
The total number of recoveries from the virus in the UAE rose to 15,056 after 561 more patients fully recovered.
Kuwait reported 838 new cases and eight more deaths, raising the country's total number of infections to 21,302 and the death toll to 156.
The country's tally of recoveries hit 6,117 after 370 more patients recovered.
People wearing face masks are seen on a street in Cairo, Egypt, on May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
Egypt's coronavirus cases soared to 17,265 after 752 new infections were added.
The country witnessed a record of 29 daily new fatalities of COVID-19, raising the death toll to 764. The Egyptian Health Ministry also reported 179 more cases of recoveries, increasing the total recoveries to 4,807.
The North African country has received three batches of medical aid from the Chinese government to help its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israel reported five new COVID-19 cases, the lowest single-day rise in the country since March 7, bringing the tally of coronavirus infections to 16,717.
The number of recoveries in the country increased by 63 to 14,153.
It is worth noting that the death toll from COVID-19 in Israel remained 297 as no new death case has been recorded for four consecutive days.
Israelis relax themselves at the Tel Aviv port in Tel Aviv as restrictions amid COVID-19 pandemic ease in the country, May 23, 2020. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua)
Oman's Ministry of Health announced 513 new cases of infections, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 7,770, including 36 deaths and 1,933 recoveries.
In Morocco, the tally of the coronavirus infections increased to 7,433 after 27 new cases were added, which included 199 fatalities and 4,703 recoveries.
Iraq confirmed 197 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections to 4,469, of whom 160 have died and 2,738 recovered.
In the mean time, the Iraqi Health Ministry said that further health preventive measures will be taken next week after the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, including maintaining the partial curfew to help curbing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Iraq has received batches of medical aid from China and the support from a team of Chinese medical experts during their 50-day stay.
In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 17 to 1,114, while the death toll remained unchanged at 26.
Jordan registered four more infections, bringing the total coronavirus cases to 708, including nine deaths and 471 recoveries.
Meanwhile, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 222, as 10 new cases were confirmed.
The death toll of the pandemic climbed to 42 in different areas of the government-controlled provinces, including the southern port city of Aden.
So far, the pro-government health authorities have recorded 10 recoveries.
In addition, health authorities in the Yemeni Houthi rebel-held capital Sanaa has declared earlier a total number of four infections in northern Yemen, including one death.
In Syria, 16 new cases were recorded, raising the overall number of infections in the country to 86 which included four fatalities and 41 recoveries. ■
