CAIRO, Jan 18 (NNN-MENA) – Iran said, it purchased 16.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX. Meanwhile, Lebanon signed a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech, to buy over two million doses.
Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the Iranian National Headquarters for Combating the virus, said, “We paid 52 million U.S. dollars to buy 16.8 million doses of the COVAX vaccine, for 8.4 million people.”
The vaccines from COVAX, which is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organisation, are expected to arrive in two months, Raisi said.
Iran’s total number of cases climbed by 6,016 to 1,330,411, while its death toll rose by 86 to 56,803, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
A total of 1,119,137 people recovered from the disease, while 4,374 remained in intensive care units, she said.
In Lebanon, the office of Caretaker Health Minister, Hamad Hassan, announced that, the minister signed the final contract with Pfizer and BioNTech, to secure the purchase of over two million vaccines which are expected to arrive gradually starting in Feb.
Lebanon registered yesterday, 3,654 new infections, bringing its total number of cases to 252,812, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported. The the death toll in Lebanon increased by 40 to 1,906.
Turkey, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, reported 6,436 new cases and 165 more deaths, bringing its tally of infections to 2,387,1010, and its death toll to 23,997. The total recoveries from the disease in Turkey surged by 8,005 to 2,262,864.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 645 new cases, bringing the total infections to 608,232. It confirmed nine more deaths, taking its death toll to 12,944, while its total recoveries soared by 1,531 to 569,429.
Iraqi Minister of Health, Hassan al-Tamimi, said, the pandemic is under control in Iraq as the recovery rate has reached 93 percent and the death rate is kept at about two percent. He denied media reports about the discovery of a new virus strain in Iraq.
Israel’s Ministry of Health reported 5,825 new cases yesterday, bringing the total number to 547,689.
The death toll reached 3,989, with 46 new fatalities, while total recoveries surged by 5,226 to 460,596. The active cases in Israel rose to a record high of 83,104.
The ministry also reported the number of people vaccinated against the COVID-19 reached 2.075 million.
Morocco’s COVID tally rose to 459,671 yesterday, as 806 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Health said, the death toll rose by 31 to 7,942, while the tally of recoveries increased to 434,925 after 988 new ones were added.
Saudi Arabia reported 176 new cases and five more deaths, raising its tally of infections to 364,929 and its death toll to 6,323. The total recoveries from the virus in the kingdom increased by 146 to 356,687.
Jordan’s total cases surged to 314,514 with the addition of 957 new infections, while its death toll rose by eight to 4,145. Total recoveries increased by 1,623 to 298,868.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the total cases climbed by 3,453 to 253,261, while its death toll soared to 745 with five more fatalities. Total recoveries in the UAE increased by 3,268 to 225,374.
Kuwait reported 378 new cases, raising the tally of infections to 157,777, while deaths remained at 947.
The Kuwaiti Health Ministry also announced the recovery of 464 more patients, taking the total recoveries to 151,142.
Egypt reported 887 new cases and 54 more deaths, raising its tally of infections to 155,507 and its death toll to 8,527. The total recoveries rose by 499 to 122,291.
Palestine announced 578 new cases yesterday, the 10th consecutive day when the daily count is below 1,000, taking its tally of infections to 171,215.
The death toll in the Palestinian territories climbed by 20 to 1,881, while the tally of recoveries increased by 862 to 157,129, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
The Qatari health ministry announced 188 new infections, raising the total number of cases to 147,277. Its overall recoveries rose by 246 to 143,858, while its fatalities remained unchanged at 246 for the 10th day.
Oman will shut down its land borders for one week starting today, to curb the spread of the virus, under a decision made by the state’s emergency committee.
Oman’s total infections hit 131,790 yesterday, after 526 new cases were recorded. Its death toll rose by three to 1,512, while total recoveries surged by 474 to 124,067.
Libya reported 1,071 new cases and 14 more fatalities, pushing its total caseload to 109,088, and its death toll to 1,665. Total recoveries increased to 56,125, with the addition of 1,057 new ones.– NNN-MENA
