Amman, December 4th – Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency reporter in the Middle East reported that the situation of the novel coronavirus epidemic in the Middle East is still serious, and the number of confirmed cases in various countries continued to rise on the 4th. Bahrain approved the emergency use of a coronavirus vaccine, and many countries are concerned about the development and use of the novel coronavirus vaccine.
According to the data released on the website of Bahrain Ministry of Health on the 4th, there have been 168 new confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, with a total of 87,600 confirmed cases; 341 deaths; and 85,710 cured. According to a Bahrain News Agency on the 4th, Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority has approved the emergency use authorization for the coronavirus vaccine developed by the German biotechnology company in cooperation with Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of the United States. The report said that the vaccine will be provided to groups at higher risk of infection, including the elderly, people with chronic diseases and other people at high risk identified by the health department. However, at present, the authorities have not disclosed when vaccination services will begin to be provided.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health said on the 4th that there were 1,855 new confirmed cases in the country, with a total of 560,622 confirmed cases; a total of 12,387 deaths; and a total of 489,772 cured cases. Iraqi Health Minister Hassan Tamimi said on the same day that the Ministry is consulting with some vaccine research and development and production enterprises on the supply of coronavirus vaccines. After the relevant vaccines are internationally certified, Iraq will plan to purchase vaccines for 20% of the country’s population.
Tunisia announced on the 4th that it had 1,217 new confirmed cases, with a total of 101,900 confirmed cases; 3,481 deaths and 75,464 cured. Tunisian Health Minister Mahdi said on the 4th that Tunisia plans to purchase 6 million doses of coronavirus vaccine and vaccinate 3 million nationals, accounting for about a quarter of the country’s total population.
Egypt’s Ministry of Health said on the 4th that there were 427 new confirmed cases in the country, with a total of 114,583 confirmed cases; 103,191 cured cases; and 6,732 deaths. Egyptian Foreign Minister Shukeri said on the same day that the international community should work together to safeguard the right of developing countries to obtain a coronavirus vaccine.
Iran’s Ministry of Health said on the 4th that 13,341 new confirmed cases were confirmed, with a total of 1016,835 confirmed cases; 347 new deaths, with a total of 49,695 deaths; and 8,791 new cured cases, with a total of 708,106 cases cured. Iranian Health Minister Namaki said that the epidemic shows that it is very important for the international community to maintain unity and full coordination to guarantee the right of countries to obtain coronavirus drugs and vaccines.
According to the website of the Palestinian Ministry of Health on the 4th, there have been 1968 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, with a total of 108,280 confirmed cases; 890 deaths; and 82,809 cured cases. In order to curb the spread of the epidemic, the Palestinian government has implemented a two-day all-weather “full lockdown” in the West Bank from the 4th. Hamas, which actually controls the Gaza Strip, announced on the 4th the closure of all mosques, public markets, various schools, wedding venues and other facilities in the Gaza Strip, and imposed a curfew from 6 o’clock every night from the 5th.
The website of the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on the 4th that 1,478 new confirmed cases were confirmed in the country, with a total of 134,254 confirmed cases; 1,078 deaths; and 88,019 cured. Hamad Hassan, the health minister of the Lebanese caretaker government, said on the 4th that the number of hospitals receiving COVID-19 patients in Lebanon has increased from 10 to 17, and can currently receive 1,000 COVID-19 patients. It is expected that by the end of this year, the number of hospitals that can accept COVID-19 patients will increase to 20.
Kuwait added 343 new confirmed cases on the 4th, with a total of 143,917 confirmed cases; 139,138 cured cases; and 886 deaths. The Ministry of Health of Science and Technology said on the same day that it had taken epidemic prevention measures for the National Assembly elections to be held on the 5th.
Some countries in the Middle East updated the cumulative number of confirmed cases on the 4th: Turkey 765,997, Morocco 372,620, Saudi Arabia 358,336, Israel 342,101, Jordan 234,353, United Arab Emirates 174,062, Qatar 13 9,643 cases, 86,730 cases in Algeria, 85,529 cases in Libya and 8,233 cases in Syria.
