Saudi Arabia reports highest coronavirus daily increase as cases top 4.5 million globally

Saudi Arabia
Health workers perform a nose swab test during a drive through coronavirus test campaign held in Diriyah hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh on May 7, 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia has announced 2,307 new coronavirus cases in the past day, making it the highest daily increase yet, the country’s health ministry tweeted Friday.

At least nine new deaths related to the virus were also confirmed, bringing the death toll to at least 292, the ministry said.

The additional cases bring the total number of known Covid-19 infections in the country to more than 49,000.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced a new 24-hour nationwide curfew starting May 23 and during Eid holidays to control the spread of the virus, state-news agency SPA reported, quoting the Ministry of Interior.

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The kingdom had last month eased lockdown measures during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which started from April 23. The important Eid holidays mark the end of Ramadan.

With ramped up testing, reported coronavirus cases continue to rise in Saudi Arabia, and the authorities have called on residents to limit gatherings, an important custom during Ramadan and Eid holidays.

Meanwhile, there are now 4,508,435 cases of coronavirus in the world as of Friday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The countries with the highest cases in order are the US, Russia, UK, Spain and Italy.

The US, UK and Italy have the most deaths.