Turkey has counted 82,329 confirmed cases of new coronavirus infections, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Saturday. The country overtakes its Iranian neighbor for the first time to post the highest total in the Middle East.

>> Read: Coronavirus: Iranians face mourning and self-containment

This figure of 82,239, which increased by 3,783 in 24 hours, places the country just behind China, where the epidemic started.

Fahrettin Koca added that the death toll from the disease had increased by 121 to 1,890, compared to 5,031 deaths in Iran.

The Interior Ministry said it was extending travel restrictions between 31 cities across the country by 15 days from this Saturday.

With Reuters

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR