Death toll due to the spread of the novel Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, has reached 5,539 worldwide, while 71,718 cases have recovered globally. According to statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), 150,598 people have been infected globally until mid-Saturday. Egypt's Ministry of Health announced that the country's total detected COVID-19 cases reached 109, of whom 21 have recovered and discharged from hospital. The WHO announced recently that Europe is now the epicentre of the global pandemic, urging countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation, and social distancing to save lives. Italy is now the epicentre of the infection in Europe as Rome has recorded its highest daily toll yet, while its deaths has surpassed Iran recording 250 deaths over the past 24 hours. The total deaths in Italy due to the pandemic is 1,266, with 17,660 infections so far. Spain is the second most affected European country. It has reported 6,043 infections with 133 deaths, while 193 cases have recovered. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia declared on Saturday that it would suspend international flights for two weeks in response to the pandemic. While US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the pandemic, and announced providing about $50 bn in federal aid to fight the outbreak. The United Arab Emirates has also taken tight measures regarding travel suspending flights from many countries. 2,499 Iran is the epicentre of the infection in the Middle East, as the pandemic continued its spread in the country killing 611 people amid 12,792 cases, according to Iranian official media. Tehran announced lack of capability to combat the disease, asking the International Monetary Fund to provide her with $5bn in emergency funding. Meanwhile, a number of countries including several African states such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda, Guinea, Mauritania, and Eswatini have reported their first cases of the infection.
