Coronavirus cases in the Gulf pass 100,000

Saudi Arabia has had more than 41,000 patients and 255 deaths

A cat lingers in front of covered stalls in Kuwait city during the 20-day nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on May 11, 2020. AFP

Cases of coronavirus passed the 100,000 mark collectively in the six GCC states on Monday, as global deaths neared 300,000.

Saudi Arabia has the highest count at 41,014 infections and 255 deaths, the Johns Hopkins University counter said.

It recorded 1,966 new cases and nine more deaths on Monday. The daily number of new cases in the kingdom first passed 1,000 on April 18.

The UAE total has so far reported 18,198 infections with 198 deaths.

Authorities said the new infections included members of four families who defied regulations by meeting for taraweeh prayers.

More than 285,000 people have died as a result of the virus worldwide.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led an online government meeting on Monday.

Sheikh Mohammed spoke of the need to protect public health, the economy and the UAE way of life at the meeting, which was held to develop the nation's post Covid-19 strategy.

He called on officials to form an "Emirates team" that would ensure the country made the fastest recovery from the crisis.

"Today our goal is not only to protect people's health," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"Rather, our goal is also to protect the economy, protect the gains and protect a decent life."

Elsewhere, all mosques in Iran will reopen on Tuesday, a further step in the government’s plans to ease restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus, the official Irib news agency reported.

In Jordan, the government decided on Monday to allow civil servants to return to work on May 26 after a break of about two months, its spokesman said.

Outside of the Middle East, China’s Wuhan, the heart of the outbreak, reported its first cluster of infections since a lockdown on the city was lifted a month ago, stoking concerns of a wider resurgence.

The province reported five new confirmed cases, all from the same residential compound.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump accused Democrats of moving to reopen states from coronavirus lockdown measures too slowly, for political advantage.

The virus has killed more than 81,000 people in the US.