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CAIRO, April 5-- Iran's COVID-19 cases rose by 2,483 to 58,226 on Sunday as the slowdown continued for five consecutive days in a row. Meanwhile, the tally of novel coronavirus infections in Israel surpassed 8,000. The death toll from the viral respiratory disease in Iran rose by 151 to reach 3,603. So far, a total of 22,011 patients have recovered from the disease, while 4,057 remain in critical condition. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered the extension of a ban on all sports activities until April 18 in a bid to curb the coronavirus pandemic. But he added the existing restrictions imposed to curb the COVID-19 spread would be eased gradually in the following weeks. Rouhani also denied that there are differences between two ministries over dealing with the pandemic. Media reports suggested that while the ministry of industry urged the resumption of economic activities, the ministry of health insisted on implementing the social distancing plan which started on March 27. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, blasted the recent U.S. move to block a loan by the International Monetary Fund to Iran to fight the COVID-19 outbreak as "a real instance of crimes against humanity." In Turkey, the second hardest-hit country in the region, 3,135 new COVID-19 cases were reported, raising the tally of infections to 27,069. The death toll from the virus reached 574, after 73 fatalities were added. Turkey's total number of recoveries from the coronavirus reached 1,042, while 1,381 patients are still in intensive care units. | 
