Iran's number of cases rises; Turkey imposes curfew

CAIRO－The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 220,000 in Iran on Saturday; Turkey's infections approached 196,000, and it imposed a partial curfew as nationwide university entrance exams were held.

Iran reemerged as the hardest-hit country by the pandemic in the Middle East, reporting 2,489 new cases, taking its total number to 222,669 on Sunday.

The country also reported 144 new deaths, raising the death toll to 10,508. However, a total of 183,310 patients have recovered, and 2,946 are in critical condition.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Turkey rose to 195,883 after 1,372 new infections were reported on Saturday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

The death toll from the virus rose to 5,082, and 1,984 patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 169,182.

On the same day, about 2.4 million Turkish high school graduates took the university entrance exam under a partial curfew imposed for this weekend to limit the social interaction on streets over concerns about the spread of the virus.

Local authorities in each province also announced a series of measures against the pandemic, reminding parents and students to strictly follow social distancing rules and wear masks.

Students were also provided with hand sanitizers and extra masks at the exam centers.

Istanbul municipality said public transport would be operational at full capacity and would be free for students and teachers.

India's confirmed cases crossed half a million on Saturday, with another record daily jump of 18,552 infections.

The health ministry reported 384 new deaths, raising the total to 15,685.

With more than 77,000 cases, New Delhi has been hit harder than any other Indian city.

Infections were initially projected to rise to half a million by the end of July in Delhi, the territory that includes the capital. But with the rate of infections slowing, the number has been revised to 400,000, and Acting Health Minister Manish Sisodia said he was hopeful that it could be less.

"But we can't be under any illusions," he said on Saturday.

"The availability of medical staff is a big challenge that (other) states need to address as well," he added.

The surge also prompted authorities in the northeastern state of Assam to impose a twoweek lockdown in the state capital of Gauhati.

About 700 new cases were reported there in just four days. The state's health minister said the rest of Assam will be placed under a curfew and weekend lockdowns.

He also urged people to store essential goods and signaled a tighter lockdown in which even grocery stores would be closed.

Highest daily increase

In Africa, South Africa on Saturday reported 7,210 new cases, the highest daily rise since the disease broke out in early March.

With the new cases, the total number in the country has risen to 131,800, the country's health department said in its daily report.

The country recorded 73 new deaths, taking the death toll to 2,413, the department said.

South Africa's Western Cape remained the epicenter of the pandemic with 59,315 cases, followed by Gauteng with 34,285 and the Eastern Cape with 23,658.

The pandemic also took its toll on schools following the phased reopening of grade 7 and grade 12 classes on June 8.

According to the education department, 700 schools across the country had to close at some stage following infections among teachers and pupils.

More than 520 pupils and 1,169 staff members have tested positive since schools reopened three weeks ago, the education department said, adding that the Eastern Cape has the highest number of pupils who have contracted the virus, with 270 testing positive.

Despite growing calls for the government to cancel its school reopening program, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said her department would go ahead with the plan for a phased reopening.

Xinhua - Agencies