This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the Middle East was at a critical threshold in COVID-19 cases.
The region, which includes 22 countries from Morocco to Pakistan, had recorded 1,077,706 novel coronavirus cases and 24,973 deaths, according to WHO figures.
WHO's Middle East head, Ahmed al-Mandhari, said passing a million infections marked a 'concerning milestone' and urged countries to strengthen their healthcare systems.
He attributed the rise in confirmed cases to increased testing, the easing of lockdown measures, and weakened health infrastructure in conflict-hit countries.
Over 80 percent of all deaths in the region were reported in five countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
Iran, which has been struggling to contain the Middle East's deadliest outbreak, recorded its highest single-day COVID-19 death toll of 162 on June 29, 2020.
The country has now recorded a total of 230,211 infections and 10,958 deaths.
WHO officials urged governments to prepare more intensive care beds and emergency wards, and for individuals to be 'cautious and vigilant' as lockdowns and curfews were eased.
They also called for global solidarity, saying 'we have to face this pandemic as one government and one community.'
