Coronavirus cases rise in Oman, Iraq

Health authorities in Oman and Iraq reported more coronavirus cases on Thursday.

In Oman, 74 fresh cases of COVID-19 were recorded, bringing the total to 2,348. The death toll in the country stood at 10, while 495 people have so far recovered from the virus, according to the Health Ministry.

In Iraq, the Health Ministry of the Kurdish Regional Government recorded five cases in Erbil and one in Wasit province. The new cases push the total number of cases across Iraq to 2,008 -- including 92 deaths and 1,346 recoveries.

After originating in China last December, the coronavirus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

The pandemic has killed nearly 228,000 people, with total infections exceeding 3.2 million, while more than 983,500 have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the US.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat