Middle East Experience

Russia has registered close to 75,000 new coronavirus cases over the past week alone with 10,000 new infections confirmed on Friday, as Moscow unveils mass antibody testing and a national lockdown is eased.Health officials reported 10,598 new infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the country’s total to 262,843, the second-highest in the world after the United States.Russia says its high number of cases is due in part to a massive testing campaign that has seen more than six million tests carried out.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Moscow accounts for roughly half of all infections and the city said it would be launching mass voluntary tests for antibodies from Friday.Russian President Vladimir Putin this week announced that a nationwide lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the virus would be eased, even as health officials record a steady increase in new cases.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appDespite its high number of cases, Russia's official coronavirus fatality rate is low in comparison to countries like the United States, Britain, Italy and Spain.The country reported 113 new coronavirus deaths on Friday, bringing Russia’s total to 2,418.Read more:Russia may need army to help battle coronavirus: PutinCoronavirus: Russia to end economic shutdownCoronavirus: Russia stops use of ventilators that may have caused fires in hospitalsAuthorities say this is because Russia was able to learn lessons from the experiences of western Europe, moving quickly to isolate travelers and people at risk, and launch a vast campaign to test and quarantine those infected.But critics have cast doubt on the figures, accusing the authorities of under-counting by blaming virus-related deaths on other causes.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Russia records nearly 75,000 new cases in single week, total now 262,843

Abolfazl Sarlak, a commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed in Syria, Iranian state media reported.Iran’s state news agencies have given conflicting reports on how Sarlak was killed. The semi-official Mehr news agency said he was killed by an explosive trap set up by ISIS in eastern Aleppo on Sunday, while the semi-official Fars news agency said he was killed during clashes with “terrorists” in the town of Khanaser in Aleppo.Sarlak had been fighting “takfiris” in Syria and Iraq “for years,” Mehr said. Iran uses the term “takfiri” to refer to Sunni groups it deems extremist.Sarlak had been living in Aleppo with his wife and two children, the official IRIB news agency said, adding that he had an “important role” in the IRGC’s headquarters in Aleppo.The commander was close to slain commander Qassem Soleimani, according to the Iranian media. Soleimani, who headed the Quds Force – the overseas arms of the IRGC – was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport in January.Following news of Sarlak’s death, IRGC-linked accounts on social media shared an undated image showing him with the new head of the Quds Force Esmail Ghaani.Read more:Iran’s IRGC says it launched satellite amid US tensionsDo not fly over Iran: Families of shot down Ukraine airliner victims launch petitionIranian destroyer attacks Iranian warship during drill, at least 19 dead: Iran TV
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iranian IRGC commander Abolfazl Sarlak killed in Syria

Kuwait’s coronavirus numbers continued to increase on Friday with 885 new cases and eight fatalities recorded over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The newly discovered cases raised the total in the Kingdom to 12,860 with a death toll of 96.Meanwhile, 28 percent (3,640) of those who were infected in Kuwait have recovered after 189 new recoveries were recorded.A health ministry spokesman said on Thursday that Kuwait began testing for coronavirus in January 2020 and continues its efforts to expand the testing capacity with 4,074 new screenings performed over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of tests to 236,004.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. In April, Kuwait had the second least total number of infections in the GCC. It is now the third least followed by Bahrain with 5,531 cases as of Wednesday and Oman with 4,341 total as of Thursday.The first three cases in Kuwait were announced on February 24, all of which had arrived from Iran which was witnessing an explosion of cases at the time. Many of the subsequent cases confirmed in Kuwait during late February were also people arriving from Iran.Kuwait was quick to impose an 11-hour curfew on its population beginning on March 22, along with heavy fines for breaking the rules. The curfew is still in place. Like other GCC countries, Kuwait has also shut schools and closed businesses.Al Arabiya English's Tommy Hilton contributed to this report.Read more:Russia records nearly 75,000 new cases in single week, total now 262,843Coronavirus is less deadly than we thought, says German expertWhat counts as a death from COVID-19?
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait numbers continue to increase, 885 new cases, eight deaths

Saudi Arabia recorded more coronavirus recoveries than new cases over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry’s latest update on Thursday.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.An additional 2,307 infection cases were confirmed raising the total to 49,176, however, 2,828 recoveries were also confirmed bringing the total number of those who have recovered in the Kingdom to 21,869. Over 44 percent of those who contracted the virus in Saudi Arabia have recovered.Health ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali also announced nine new fatalities as a result of complications, raising the relatively low death toll to 292. The Kingdom has maintained a lower death rate of about 0.6 percent compared to the global rate of about 7 percent.Forty-one percent of the newly confirmed cases are of Saudi nationals. Most cases previously recorded in the Kingdom were of people living in densely populated residential areas, especially neighborhoods that house laborers, according to the health ministry.The ministry also saw a significant increase in the number of children and females recently testing positive for the virus. The spokesman said on Thursday that the increase is a result of social gatherings and non-compliance with preventative measures implemented.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia recently banned gatherings and groups of more than five people under new regulations to slow the spread of the virus. Gatherings that include more than one family and individuals who are not members of the same family are not allowed.Read also: Saudi Arabia eases coronavirus restrictions for two weeks: 6 questions answeredThe spokesman continued to urge people to only go out when absolutely necessary and to avoid crowds in order to not contract or spread the virus.In its latest efforts to slow the spread of the virus, Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it will impose a 24-hour lockdown for the Muslim Eid holiday when Ramadan ends next week.Read more: What counts as a death from COVID-19?Coronavirus is less deadly than we thought, says German expertFour families in Saudi Arabia infected after group Ramadan iftar
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 2,307 new cases, its highest daily increase yet

Municipalities in the Gaza Strip issued a decision to reduce some services provided to citizens in light of the coronavirus crisis.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gaza municipalities suspend services amid coronavirus crisis

Bus will operate in labour camps and be available to elderly members of the public
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Dubai Health Authority launches mobile Covid-19 testing bus

Restructuring of the banking sector will entail halving the number of banks in the country
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Crisis-hit Lebanon ready to float pound after aid: minister

Ministry of Health revealed 189 additional patients have recovered
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait reports 885 new cases, eight more deaths

Sharjah-based low cost carrier also announced 14% drop in passenger numbers compared to Q1 2019
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Air Arabia reveals 45% drop in net profit for Q1

The United Arab Emirates confirmed a steady increase of 747 new coronavirus cases on Friday, raising the total to 21,831, according to the health ministry.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The relatively low death toll reached 210 after two new people of different nationalities died due to complications. Meanwhile, an additional 398 people who were infected with the virus have recovered, raising the recovery total to 7,328 so far.The ministry continues its efforts in expanding the testing capacity with 38,000 new tests administered which led to detecting the newly confirmed cases, according to the health ministry. Health authorities have performed well over 1.5 million tests so far.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The UAE has the third highest number of cases in the GCC as of Thursday, right behind Qatar with 29,425 cases as of Friday. Saudi Arabia currently has the highest number of infections in the region with 49,176 cases, but like the UAE, the Kingdom has maintained a relatively low death rate at 0.6 percent.The UAE was the first in the wider Middle East to record a case of coronavirus, a 73-year-old Chinese woman on January 29. The announcement was followed shortly by several other cases, most of whom were also Chinese tourists.Read more:Saudi Arabia records 2,307 new cases, its highest daily increase yetUAE has one of the highest coronavirus recovery rates globally: Dubai health officialCoronavirus is less deadly than we thought, says German expert
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE confirms 747 new cases, 398 recoveries, two deaths