Oman recorded 193 new coronavirus infections, mostly in expatriates, and one new death, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.This brings the total number of cases in the country to 5,379 and the virus-related death toll to 23.For more coronavirus cases, visit our dedicated page.The ministry confirmed that 72 Omani citizens and 121 expatriates were infected with the virus.A 46-year-old non-Omani resident died on Monday due to the coronavirus.Also read: Oman postpones local municipal elections to a later date amid coronavirusMeanwhile, the number of recoveries in the country rose to 1,496.Oman announced its first two cases of the virus on February 24 after two Omani women were infected during a trip to Iran.Strict measures were imposed throughout Oman to prevent the further spread of the virus. A lockdown had been implemented in the capital Muscat and was extended until the end of May. Ramadan mass gatherings were also banned throughout the Sultanate.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Most new infections in Oman found in expats
Pandemic won't halt construction on Egypt’s first nuclear power plant
Although a series of mega projects have been postponed in Egypt due to the coronavirus outbreak, work on the country’s first nuclear power plant continues.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Pandemic won't halt construction on Egypt’s first nuclear power plant
Coronavirus: UK adds loss of smell, taste to COVID-19 symptom list
The United Kingdom has added the loss of smell and taste to its official list of COVID-19 symptoms including fever and new continuous cough - a step that it hopes could help pick up about 2 percent more cases of novel coronavirus.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The change, announced by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, came after scientists advising the government decided it could help pick up more cases if included in the basic case definition.“Our basic case definition, which has for some time been new continuous cough or fever, will change to new continuous cough or fever or anosmia,” Van-Tam, who previously worked at SmithKline Beecham, Roche and Aventis Pasteur, told reporters.For the purposes of public messaging, anosmia - the loss of smell - will be defined as a loss of smell and taste as the two are very closely linked in a neurological sense, Van-Tam said.By adding anosmia the sensitivity of new case pick up could increase to 93 percent from 91 percent with just new cough and fever, Van-Tam said.Read more:Cats can spread coronavirus, cat-to-human COVID-19 transmission possible: ResearchersSome couples form ‘suicide pacts’ due to the coronavirus pandemic, study findsOther possible symptoms of COVID-19 include fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or loss of appetite but have not been included in the basic case definition.When asked why the United Kingdom has lagged other countries in including the loss of smell in its official list, Van-Tam said:“The question is: Which of those symptoms actually make the interception of cases better or worse?” Van-Tam said the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, or NERVTAG, had first looked at anosmia on March 27 but had kept it under review until a few days ago when the new advice was approved by the United Kingdom’s top clinicians group.NERVTAG ultimately decided that adding anosmia would increase the number of cases picked up after reviewing data on laboratory-confirmed cases. It relied on data from a Public Health England surveillance system known as the First Few 100, or FF100.It also used comparisons from other data on respiratory viruses - primarily from University College London’s Virus Watch study.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UK adds loss of smell, taste to COVID-19 symptom list
Coronavirus cases in Kuwait surpass 15,000 after 841 new infections reported
Coronavirus cases in Kuwait surpassed the 15,000 mark after 841 new infections were reported in 24 hours, the Ministry of Health said.The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country is 15,691.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Six people died of the virus, which brings the total number of virus-related deaths in the country to 118.Some of the newly infected individuals were infected through direct contact with others who were infected, while some are still under epidemic investigation to determine how they were infected.So far, 4,339 people have recovered from the virus in Kuwait.Kuwait last week began its 24-hour nationwide curfew to curb the coronavirus outbreak. The ministry urged citizens and residents to adhere to precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti says Muslims can perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at homeCoronavirus: Up to three years in prison for not wearing face mask in Qatar
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus cases in Kuwait surpass 15,000 after 841 new infections reported
Israel’s 'annexation government' sworn in
The new Netanyahu-Gantz unity government, which was sworn in May 17, is already facing controversy over Prime Minister Netanyahu's focus on rushing annexation of parts of the West Bank.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s 'annexation government' sworn in
Coronavirus: Qatar records 1,365 new infections as active cases rise to 29,055
Qatar records 1,365 new coronavirus infections as the number of active cases rises to 29,055, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Nineteen people were admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in the past 24 hours, which brings the total number of people in ICUs in Qatar to 172.The virus-related death toll in Qatar is 15, the ministry said.Meanwhile, a total of 4,899 people have recovered from the coronavirus in the country.Also read: Coronavirus: Up to three years in prison for not wearing face mask in QatarQatar has made wearing a face mask compulsory for everyone who steps outside their home, with violators facing jail time and fines of up to $55,000, according to AFP.The country has seen a relatively high number of coronavirus cases given it has a population of 2.75 million people.Read more:Coronavirus: Qatar urges no Eid visits, suspends visa on arrival for European states
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Qatar records 1,365 new infections as active cases rise to 29,055
Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 2,593 new cases, majority in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia reported 2,593 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 57,345, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The majority of the new cases was reported in the capital city Riyadh, where 642 infections were detected in 24 hours.Mecca had the second highest number of new infections with 510 reported cases, according to the ministry.The other cases were recorded in cities and provinces around the Kingdom.Females make up 25 percent of the new infections, while males make up 75 percent, health ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali said.Saudi citizens make up 44 percent of the new infections, and expats make up 56 percent.Also read: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti says Muslims can perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at homeEight people died of the virus in areas across the country, al-Abd al-Ali added. This brings the coronavirus-related death toll in Saudi Arabia to 320.Meanwhile, the number of recovered patients in the Kingdom rose to 28,748.Plans to double testing Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health is planning to double its coronavirus testing program to conduct up to 36,000 COVID-19 tests daily, al-Abd al-Ali said on Sunday.The Kingdom currently conducts between 15,000 to 18,000 tests daily as part of its efforts to curb the outbreak, he added.Only a month ago, the Kingdom was conducting around 5,000 and 6,000 tests per day, he said, adding that at the time it was a significant number compared to other countries.Read more: Saudi Arabia has one of world’s lowest coronavirus death rates, critical casesCoronavirus ban on family gatherings, weddings, funerals remains, says Saudi official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reports 2,593 new cases, majority in Riyadh
Iraq reopens 2 border crossings to help boost battered Iranian economy
Two of five Iranian-Iraqi border crossings reopen for both goods and individuals, to the benefit of Iran's sanctions- and coronavirus-hit economy, and of Iraqis in the south and in the KRG-run north.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iraq reopens 2 border crossings to help boost battered Iranian economy
FBI finds al-Qaeda link in Pensacola naval base shooter’s iPhone
Recently unlocked phones show the man who killed three people at a Florida naval base had likely been in contact with al-Qaeda.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: FBI finds al-Qaeda link in Pensacola naval base shooter’s iPhone
Intel: Saudi arms sale probe factored in Trump's firing of watchdog
President Donald Trump fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick last week in part because of an investigation into an $8 billion emergency arms sales for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a source on Capitol Hill told Al-Monitor.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Saudi arms sale probe factored in Trump's firing of watchdog