Middle East surpasses 3 million COVID cases
The Middle East has achieved another disheartening milestone amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The region has recorded over 3 million cases of the potentially lethal disease, according to a count by The Associated Press on Friday. The outlet relied on individual countries' reported figures.
Middle Eastern health authorities have also reported over 75,000 deaths linked to COVID-19 and 2.5 million recoveries.
Iran, which earlier this month surpassed 30,000 COVID-19 deaths, continues to be the most severely affected Middle Eastern nation.
To date, the country has confirmed close to 605,000 cases with more than 34,000 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University & Medicine’s Coronavirus Resource Center.
Iran has also reported around 477,000 recoveries, though officials suspect the nation’s current tallies may be underestimates all around.
As in the U.S., officials opted early on to downplay the true threat of the disease, which has since affected those in both country’s governments.
In mid-October, as Iranian officials banned travel to and from major cities to try and contain the spread, Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi — who tested positive back in March — admitted he believed the true death toll to be double the official reports.
With News Wire Services
