In this Oct 11, 2020 photo, people wear protective face masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in downtown Tehran, Iran. (EBRAHIM NOROOZI / AP)

MUMBAI / KABUL / DHAKA / BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN / TEHRAN / JERUSALEM / DUBAI / MALE / MUSCAT / ANKARA / TOKYO / KUWAIT CITY / KUALA LUMPUR / NEW DELHI / HANOI / COLOMBO - Iran reported on Monday 272 deaths related to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, making the highest daily death toll from COVID-19 in the country.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing that 504,281 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed so far in Iran, after the registration of 4,206 infections in the past 24 hours, official news agency IRNA reported.

According to the spokeswoman, 2,063 of these new patients have been hospitalized. The new deaths, Sadat Lari added, took the overall death toll of the epidemic in Iran to 28,816.

On Sunday, the country reported 251 deaths, which was at the time the highest single-day death toll since the outbreak began in Iran.

Fortunately, Sadat Lari noted that 409,121 patients had recovered or had been discharged from hospitals, while 4,533 patients remain in critical condition.

The number of laboratory tests for COVID-19 carried out in Iran as of Monday reached 4,340,831, she went on to say.

Sadat Lari said 26 out of 31 Iranian provinces are on red alert for a high risk of infection, while four others are on yellow alert.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan on Monday reported 71 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases after health authorities conducted 565 tests within a day, the country's Ministry of Public Health confirmed.

The new cases were registered in 15 provinces of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, the ministry said in a statement.

Up to 1,479 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak of the pandemic in February, an increase of two within the past 24 hours.

Out of the total infected people, 33,118 patients have recovered, including four who showed improvement and were discharged from hospitals since early Sunday.

Laboratories across Afghanistan have completed 114,997 tests since February. 

Bangladesh

Bangladesh reported 1,472 new COVID-19 cases and 31 new deaths on Monday, making the tally at 379,738 and death toll at 5,555, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The official data showed that 13,227 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh.

The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 294,391 including 1,531 new recoveries on Monday, said the DGHS.

According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is now 1.46 percent and the current recovery rate is 77.52 percent.

Bangladesh recorded the highest daily new cases of 4,019 on July 2 and the highest number of deaths of 64 on June 30.

Brunei

Brunei reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday with the national tally of cases standing at 146.

It marked the 18th consecutive day without new cases since Sept 24.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, there is no active case being treated at the National Isolation Center and the total number of recovered cases remains at 143.

Meanwhile, there are 340 individuals who are currently undergoing mandatory isolation at the monitoring centers provided by the government, who have arrived in the country after traveling abroad.

There have been three deaths that resulted from COVID-19 in Brunei.

Members of a family wearing face masks enter Jurong Bird Park for a visit in Singapore on July 24, 2020. (PHOTO / AFP)

Singapore

Singapore and Indonesia will establish a reciprocal green lane for travel, according to a joint statement from the countries’ ministries for foreign affairs. The green lane will enable cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes. Applications for the green lane will open on Oct 26 and travel will commence soon after.

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported ten new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 57,876.

Of the new cases, seven are imported cases, three are linked with the dormitories of foreign workers.

On Sunday, seven more cases of COVID-19 infection have been discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities. In all, 57,705 have fully recovered from the infection and have been discharged from hospitals or community care facilities, the ministry said.

There are currently 44 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Of these, most are stable or improving, and one is in critical condition in the intensive care unit. 

South Korea

South Korea added 97 cases in 24 hours, according to data from Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The country’s death toll rose by one to 433.

South Korea over the weekend revised its social distancing alert to its lowest level, lifting restrictions on indoor meetings and open-air gatherings and opening sporting events to spectators.

South Korean drugmaker Celltrion Inc said on Monday it has received regulatory approval for Phase 3 clinical trials of an experimental COVID-19 treatment.

The approval comes as the company plans to seek conditional approval for its antibody drug, CT-P59, for emergency use by the end of this year.

The treatment, the most advanced antibody drug in terms of research in South Korea, is directed against the surface of the virus and designed to block it from locking on to human cells.

The third stage trials will be conducted on some 1,000 asymptomatic coronavirus patients and those who have come into close contact with COVID-19 patients in Korea, Celltrion said in a statement.

Activists and supporters of Aam Aadmi Party take part in a demonstration to protest against recently passed farming legislation in New Delhi on Oct 12, 2020. (JEWEL SAMAD / AFP)

India

Delhi authorities have stopped putting notices outside the homes of people infected with coronavirus because this has amplified the social stigma associated with the disease and in turn caused others to hide their illness, officials said on Monday.

Early on during the outbreak in the Indian capital, officials would paste a poster on the homes of people in quarantine after they had tested positive for the virus to make sure everyone in the neighbourhood was careful. It also deterred people from violating the quarantine.

But more than six months into the pandemic people were fully aware of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, and there was less need to publicise the cases, city officials said. Instead it was important to instil confidence in people to come forward and test themselves.

“There is a stigma with the coronavirus disease and posters outside the house amplify that. By doing away with this, we are aiming at increased testing. We want more people to get themselves tested without thinking of stigmas,” said Delhi environment minister Kailash Gehlot.

India’s total coronavirus cases stood at 7.12 million on Monday, health ministry data showed, behind only the United States which is approaching the 8 million mark.

The country recorded 66,732 new infections in the last 24 hours, a decline from last month’s highs, but still the world’s highest daily rise.

Deaths from COVID-19 infections rose by 816 to 109,150, the health ministry said.

Japan

Japan's Tokyo confirmed 78 new daily COVID-19 infections on Monday, marking the first time that the figure has dropped below the 100-mark since Oct 5.

Of those newly testing positive in the capital of 14 million, the majority were aged between 20 and 40 years olds, the Tokyo metropolitan government said, taking over half of the new positive cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the capital now stands at 27,793, the highest among Japan's 47 prefectures, according to the latest data. 

Kuwait

Kuwait on Monday reported 777 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 111,893 and the death toll to 664 in the country, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Currently, 7,427 patients are receiving treatment, including 139 in ICU, according to the statement.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 534 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 103,802.

On Sept 14, the Kuwaiti government decided to postpone the fifth phase of a plan to return to normal until further notice. During the fifth phase, theaters and cinemas will be allowed to reopen and all social events permitted to be held.

Malaysia

Malaysia on Monday announced the reintroduction of movement restriction measures in several areas including the capital city of Kuala Lumpur in a bid to contain the recent spike of COVID-19 cases.

Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who coordinated the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions, announced that the measures will be in force in Kuala Lumpur, the administration center of Putrajaya as well as the adjacent Selangor state from Oct 14 to 27, in response to the spike in daily new COVID-19 cases, with the measures aimed at breaking the chain of infections.

Meanwhile, Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a separate press briefing Monday that 562 new cases have been detected, bringing the national total to 16,220. Of the new cases, one is imported.

Two more deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 159.

ALSO READ: S. Korea eases social distancing curbs amid COVID-19 downtrend

A member of the medical staff wearing protective gear cares for a patient at the coronavirus ward of the Rambam Health Care Campus, initially built as an underground medical facility before being converted to a car park, then to a center to receive patients as COVID-19 cases surge, in the northern Israeli city of Haifa on Oct 11, 2020. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Israel

Israel's Ministry of Health reported 618 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 290,493.

The number of death cases reached 1,980, with 39 new fatalities, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 838 to 824, out of 1,576 patients currently hospitalized.

The number of recoveries rose to 228,658, with 2,933 new ones, while active cases currently stand at 59,854.

Earlier on Sunday, Tel Aviv University (TAU) in central Israel said it has been developing an antibody cocktail to treat and prevent COVID-19.

"The antibody cocktail, derived from the blood of COVID-19 patients in Israel, is a safe natural substance," TAU said.

Maldives

The COVID-19 death toll in the Maldives has hit 35 on Monday as total confirmed infections have risen to 10,894, local media reported here Monday.

A 56-year-old Maldivian woman died while receiving treatment for COVID-19 in hospital on Sunday, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

HPA data showed that 35 new cases of the COVID-19 pandemic were confirmed on Sunday, raising the country's total tally to 10,894. The Maldives currently has 1,110 active cases of COVID-19 in 21 inhabited islands and 20 resorts.

Following an overall downward trend in the number of new cases detected per day, the Ministry of Health has announced that school classes for grade seven and eight will resume on Oct 19 and Oct 25, respectively.

Meanwhile, the HPA made a statement saying that the safety of all frontline workers will be protected, in response to an incident where a health worker was assaulted while obtaining a sample.

Oman

The Omani Health Ministry on Monday announced 685 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Sultanate to 106,575, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

Meanwhile, 382 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall number of recoveries to 93,222, while eight more patients died, raising the death toll to 1,046, said a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

Oman has re-introduced a night-time ban on movement and enforced the closure of shops and public places from Oct 11 to 24 to help contain the coronavirus, with restrictions effective from 8 pm to 5 am during this period, ONA reported.

The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday announced 1,096 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 106,229.

At the same time, 1,311 more patients have recovered from the virus, taking the tally of recoveries in the UAE to 97,284, UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention said.

It also confirmed two more deaths, pushing the country's death toll to 445.

The UAE was the first among the Gulf countries to report COVID-19 cases. It has been showing solidarity with China in fight against the novel coronavirus.

Turkey

Turkey reported 1,502 new COVID-19 patients on Sunday, raising the total tally in the country to 335,533.

In addition, 59 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 8,837, while 1,212 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 294,357, according to the Health Ministry.

The rate of pneumonia in COVID-19 patients is 6.2 percent and the number of seriously ill patients is 1,411, the ministry said.

Turkish health professionals conducted 109,301 tests in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of tests to 11,615,715.

Palestine

Palestine on Sunday recorded 422 new cases infected with the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the Palestinian territories to 55,556.

Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said in a press statement that the new cases were reported in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry recorded three fatalities from the COVID-19, raising the total number of deaths to 445, the minister noted.

The minister pointed out that the recovery rate reached 87.1 percent, active case 12.1 percent and the deaths hit 0.8 percent.

Palestine currently has 6,704 active cases, according to the minister. 

Lebanon

Lebanon's number of COVID-19 cases increased on Sunday by 1,010 to 53,568 while the death toll went up by four to 459, the Health Ministry reported.

The Interior Ministry increased the number of villages that must adopt lockdown measures from 111 to 169 amid the fast spread of the virus across Lebanon.

Thailand

Thailand's northern province of Tak which borders neigboring Myanmar had on Sunday announced a temporary ban on vehicles coming from Myanmar after three Myanmar nationals tested positive for COVID-19 at the Thai border.

"We have to tightened up security at the main border trade gateway with Myanmar in Mae Sot district of Tak province after several Myanmar drivers tested positive for COVID-19 at Thai soil," said Deputy provincial governor Suphaphimit Paorik. "Vehicles from Myanmar must load and unload goods only at designated areas in Maesot district from Sunday until further notice."

The deputy governor also said that vehicles are not allowed to enter the border town and must leave Thai soil within seven hours.

He also reminded all Thai vehicles crossing the border to Myawaddy town in Myanmar to return to Thai soil within seven hours.

Thailand has banned the entry of Myanmar nationals in Tak and other border areas after rising number of COVID-19 continues to sweep across Myanmar.

Iraq

The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Monday 3,107 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide infections to 405,437.

The new cases included 1,268 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 291 in Erbil, and 246 in Duhok, while the other cases were detected in the other provinces, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also reported 60 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 9,912 in the country.

It also said that 3,893 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 340,050.

A total of 2,507,551 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 20,368 done on during the day, according to the statement.

READ MORE: Australia’s Victoria faces longer wait to ease most virus curbs

Qatar

The Qatari health ministry on Monday announced 206 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 128,191, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Meanwhile, 198 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 125,176, while the fatalities remained 220 for the second day running as no new deaths were reported, according to a ministry statement quoted by QNA.

The ministry reiterated the need to take preventive measures, including staying at home and observing social distancing.

A total of 837,486 people in Qatar have taken lab tests for COVID-19 so far.

Myanmar

Myanmar reported 1,344 more COVID-19 confirmed cases on Monday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Sports.

The newly confirmed cases brought the number of infection cases in the country to 29,314.

A total of 18 more COVID-19 deaths were also reported in the country on Monday, bringing the death toll in the country to 664, the statement said.

According to the ministry's figures, 10,260 patients have been discharged from the hospitals so far.

Some 428,668 samples have been tested for COVID-19 so far, the ministry's figures said.

New Zealand

New Zealand agreed to purchase enough vaccines from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE for 750,000 people. The pact is subject to the vaccine successfully completing all clinical trials and passing regulatory approvals in New Zealand, according to Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods and Health Minister Chris Hipkins in an emailed statement.

The agreement is complementary to other aspects of the government’s vaccine strategy, such as the global Covax facility that could provide up to 50 percent of the population’s needs.

Hipkins also said the government has established a new category that will allow 250 international doctorate and postgraduate students to enter New Zealand and continue their studies.

Mongolia

The number of COVID-19 infections rose to 318 in Mongolia, according to the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) on Monday.

"A total of 2,027 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across the country in the last three days and three of them were positive," the NCCD's head Dulmaa Nyamkhuu said at a press conference.

Two of the latest three new cases are Mongolian nationals who returned home from Japan on a chartered flight on Saturday, and the rest one is a Mongolian transport driver who came back from Russia via Altanbulag border point on Oct. 8, Nyamkhuu said.

All 318 confirmed cases were imported and, among them, 310 patients have recovered from the disease.

The Asian country has not seen a single COVID-19 related death or local transmission so far.

Indonesian health workers in protective gears conduct a swab test for the coronavirus in Jakarta, Oct 12, 2020. (ACHMAD IBRAHIM / AP)

Indonesia 

Indonesia reported 3,267 new coronavirus infections on Monday, the smallest daily rise since Sept 14, and 91 new deaths, data from the country’s coronavirus taskforce showed.

The new infections brought the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 336,716, while the death tally rose to 11,935.

Vietnam

Vietnam recorded one new confirmed case of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing its total tally to 1,110 with 35 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

The latest case is a 35-year-old Indian man who recently entered the country from India and was quarantined upon arrival, said the ministry.

The ministry also reported that one more patient has been given all-clear, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 1,025 as of Monday.

Meanwhile, nearly 16,200 people are being quarantined and monitored in Vietnam, the ministry said.

A health worker is seen wearing protective clothing as public transportation drivers queue to be swab tested for COVID-19 at a slum area on Oct 6, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. (EZRA ACAYAN / BLOOMBERG)

The Philippines

The Philippines’ health department is open to easing a curfew, but movement restrictions for the young and elderly are needed to protect vulnerable groups, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Monday. The country’s virus task force is studying cutting back the curfew in Manila from from 10 pm to 5 am after it allowed extended operating hours for malls and restaurants last week. Persons below 21 and above 60 years old are required to stay at home except for essential activities.

The Philippines reported 3,564 new coronavirus cases on Monday, the country's biggest daily tally since Sept. 19 and bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 342,816.

In a bulletin, the health ministry also recorded 11 more fatalities, taking the country's death toll to 6,332.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Education Ministry held a grade five scholarship examination across the country on Sunday and the Advanced Level examination on Monday.

The exam was held under strict health guidelines as a new cluster detected on the outskirts of capital Colombo raised the total COVID-19 patient count to above 4,700, local media reported on Monday.

Education Ministry officials said the Grade 5 scholarship exam was held in leading schools across the country and 331,694 candidates sat for the exam at 2,936 examination centers.

In the Gampaha district, where the new cluster was detected last Sunday, close to 6,000 students sat for the Grade 5 scholarship examination, while 7,000 students sat for the Advanced Level exam on Monday, Education Ministry officials said.

Till Monday evening, 4,842 COVID-19 patients were reported in Sri Lanka since the first local patient was detected in March, with 1,397 patients being from the new Minuwangoda cluster.