Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, his opponent in elections last month, are continuing
efforts to reach a power-sharing deal after President Reuven Rivlin charged parliament with the task of
choosing a candidate to form a government, the Israeli public broadcaster Kan has reported.
Netanyahu has urged Gantz to join him in a "national emergency government", which he said was needed to
combat the spread of Covid-19.
Gantz has expressed readiness to join such a coalition, citing the health crisis and abandoning his campaign
pledge not to serve under Netanyahu because of his indictment on corruption charges.
Negotiating teams from Netanyahu's Likud party and Gantz's Blue and White faction were scheduled to hold
another round of talks on 16 April, followed by a possible meeting between the two, according to the report.
Under Israeli law, the Knesset has 21 days to endorse a candidate with the backing of a majority of
lawmakers. The candidate would then have 14 days to form a government. A deal between Netanyahu and
Gantz would pave the way to the required majority and a governing coalition.
Israel: Arab Israelis witness 10 per cent increase in infection
Yesterday, the Arab Israeli community witnessed a 10 per cent rise in the number of infections, raising the
total number of Arab Israelis who have been infected to more than 460, the authorities reported.
Israel's death toll has risen to 140, Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported today. Around 12,600 Israelis
have tested positive and more than 2,600 have recovered.
The health ministry's deputy director has said that 35 elderly homes and institutions were found to have the
virus spreading inside them. The ministry conducts one-fifth of the 10,000 daily tests in those institutions. A
third of those who died in Israel due to the virus are elderly people.
Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet met to discuss potential paths to end the near total lockdown in the country. It
approved easing curfew in Jerusalem and Bnei Barak, a hotbed of the virus.
Jordan: Government to begin easing restrictions
Jordan's state news agency Petra said yesterday that the government would allow a gradual easing of
lockdown measures during the month of Ramadan, but with stringent procedures, including the use of masks
and social distancing.
Last night, Information Minister Amjad Awda al-Adaylah said that the southern city of Aqaba would be the first
to undergo an easing of restrictions because it does not have infections. In total, 397 people have contracted
the virus and seven have died.
Lebanon: Army finally starts distributing aid to needy families

The Lebanese army has begun distributing aid after weeks of delays, the state news agency (NNA) reported
this morning.
The aid had been scheduled to be distributed on 14 April but was delayed "due to mistakes in the list of
beneficiaries".
Under the programme, tens of thousands of families are set to receive a one-off cash payment of 440,000
Lebanese lira (roughly £135 UK pounds), according to the Social Affairs Ministry.
Many of Lebanon's poorest people have been facing weeks of economic hardship due to strict Covid-19
lockdown measures.
Meanwhile, this morning, President Michel Aoun ordered that the cabinet pay the dues owed to Lebanon's
hospitals.
The order came after a cabinet meeting at the Baabda presidential palace and totals 450bn Lebanese lira
(£238m UK pounds).
Hospitals are being allowed to use the older preferential rate of 1,500 LL to the dollar as opposed to the new
2,600 LL rate to the dollar, by order of the Central Bank.
The country's health sector has been struggling for months due to a dollar shortage and the state's
withholding of funds owed to hospitals.
All medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, along with other basic goods imported into Lebanon, must be
paid by hospitals and healthcare providers in US dollars.
Today, Lebanon's health ministry confirmed five new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 663, alongside 21
deaths so far.
On the same day, the health ministry announced that it had received a shipment of medical supplies from
China, including 3,000 PCR tests, 200 thermometers and other medical equipment.
Syria: Chinese medical aid arrives in Damascus
A shipment of medical aid provided by China to detect novel coronavirus infections reached Damascus
International Airport last night, according to the official Syrian news agency SANA.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Syrian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal
al-Meqdad voiced his country's "appreciation of China's position in support of Syria and its medical assistance
awarded to the Syrian people", the agency reported on the same day.
More will follow, SANA quoted the Chinese ambassador to Syria as saying, and noting that doctors in
hospitals in the two countries had previously exchanged "medical expertise" related to the virus.
Yesterday, the health authorities announced that there were four new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to
33, five of whom recovered and two died, SANA reported on the same day.
The Syrian government has not been providing a daily tally but opposition media said it could be
underreporting in areas under its control.
Libya: Authorities to implement total lockdown measures
Last night, the Tripoli-based government committee tasked with monitoring the Covid-19 outbreak in Libya
announced that a total lockdown would be implemented in areas under its control from 17 April for 10 days,
as the number of people infected increases, privately owned al-Wasat website reported.
The health minister of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), Ahmed bin Omar
called on all citizens to adhere to the lockdown measures, adding that the "situation in Libya was neither very
bad, nor very reassuring", reported al-Wasat.
Today, Libya's National Centre for Disease Control registered 13 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total of
confirmed cases in the country to 48. The centre added that a total of 11 people had fully recovered from the
virus.
Meanwhile, the Libyan consulate in Istanbul will begin testing citizens stranded in Turkey on 18 April. The
PCR tests will be carried out to assess which nationals will be able to return to Libya aboard repatriation
flights, according to privately owned 218 TV.

The consulate posted a statement on its Facebook page saying that it aims to test around 650 people a day
for a period of 14 days beginning on 18 April.
Yesterday, a GNA spokesman at the foreign ministry, Mohammed al-Qeblawi, said that around 3,200
nationals had expressed their desire to return home from Turkey and Tunisia, according to al-Wasat.
Saudi: District under total 24-hour lockdown in eastern city of Dammam
Saudi authorities have put a district in the eastern city of Dammam under a 24-hour lockdown "until further
notice", as part of the kingdom's efforts in the fight against coronavirus.
The decision to place Al-Athir district under total lockdown was announced yesterday by the ministry of
interior, according to the official Saudi news agency SPA.
The decision bans anyone from leaving their homes except for medical care or buying food supplies - which
can only be done between 6am and 3pm local time. The decision also prohibits anyone from entering or
leaving the district.
The same day the measure was announced, the Saudi health authorities said that new 493 cases had been
reported, bringing the total number of infections in the kingdom to 5,862.
Yemen: Land, sea, air port closure extended 'until further notice'
Yemen's internationally recognised government has decided to extend the closure of land, sea and air ports
under its control "until further notice" as part of efforts aimed at stemming the spread of coronavirus in the
war-torn country.
Yesterday, the pro-government Saba news agency reported that only commercial and relief flights were
exempted from the decision "subject to following the health guidelines".
Last month, the government had ordered a two-week closure of all land, air and sea ports as a precautionary
step against Covid-19. It then extended the closure as of 1 April.
UAE: Spike in cases amid mass testing drive
The United Arab Emirates has recorded 432 new Covid-19 cases, as well as five deaths, bringing its total
number of cases to 5,365 - among the highest in the region.
The new deaths take the total toll in the country to 33, the state news agency WAM quoted the health ministry
as saying yesterday.
UAE media however have consistently boasted the country being among the top countries globally in terms of
its Covid-19 testing drive.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has discussed humanitarian efforts in
response to the Covid-19 pandemic with Bill Gates.
English-language website The National also reported that the UAE is setting up a mental health drive to
address the psychological impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Qatar: Ministry says surge in cases due to 'successful' testing measures
The Qatari health ministry has attributed a surge in Covid-19 cases to improved testing capabilities.
Qatar announced 392 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total to 4,103 cases and a death toll of seven.
"The Ministry of Public Health stated that the increase in the number of confirmed new cases of Covid-19 is
due to the ministry's success in tracking the transitional chains of the virus and expanding the surveillance
process," the state-run news agency QNA tweeted today.
The ministry added that the new cases are linked to people who had been in contact with other confirmed
cases.
Iraq: Over 16,000 inmates released since start of curfew
The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council has said that more than 16,000 prisoners have been released since the
start of a curfew imposed by authorities to curb the outbreak of Covid-19.
The release of inmates aims to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak in the country's prisons.

In the meantime, the Kurdish website Shafaq News quoted the governor of Nineveh as saying yesterday that
the province was free of the coronavirus.
The governor said during a press conference that precautionary measures would be relaxed in the province
starting 18 April, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan - expected to begin around 23 April.
Also yesterday, the health ministry reported a decline in the number of new cases. It recorded 15 new cases,
bringing the total number of infections to 1,415 and the death toll to 79.
Egypt: Government eases production of masks, carries out more tests
Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) announced today that it has allowed
industrial firms operating within its system to start producing face masks without permits.
The new measure will go into effect for six months and aims to ease the process of producing masks, as only
prior notification is now required, the cabinet's Facebook page said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Immigration said it has tested 70 of its staff for Covid-19 as a precautionary
measure.
Social media users have been critical of Egypt's testing capacity. In late March, the health ministry said it had
carried out 25,000 tests, while no other reports have been published on testing numbers since.
The health minister also announced today that it has received a shipment of medical equipment from China.
Yesterday, Egypt announced 155 new cases and five deaths, bringing the total number of infections to 2,505
and the death toll to 183.
Bahrain: National bank to donate $6.6m to offset economic challenges
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has said it will donate 2.5m Bahraini dinars ($6.6m) to combat the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The bank said that the donation would "boost the state's efforts to address the economic challenges" amid
efforts to curb the spread of the virus, the website of Akhbar al-Khaleej daily said yesterday.
On 14 April, the Bahraini cabinet exempted tourism companies and travel agencies from taxes and fees for
three months, the UAE-based news website Sky News Arabia reported.
The health ministry has recorded 988 "active" Covid-19 cases and seven deaths, noting that 703 have
recovered.
Kuwait: Proposal for Gulf 'food security network' approved
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved a Kuwaiti proposal to create a joint food security network
among Gulf states to ensure adequate food supplies amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah has visited quarantine field hospitals set up to
review their preparations for the Covid-19 outbreak, the state news agency Kuna reported today.
The privately owned website Al-Qabas also reported that 470 foreigners, mostly Iranians and Europeans,
have left the country aboard commercial flights operated to fly people to their home countries.
Kuwait has recorded 119 new Covid-19 cases, bringing its total to 1,524 cases, as well as three deaths,
according to the health ministry.
Tunisia: More equipment received
This morning, Tunisia received more medical equipment including testing and screening tools, protective
medical suits, artificial respiratory devices and medical gloves donated by China and the World Health
Organisation (WHO). The equipment arrived on a dawn Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Tunisia's latest figures are 780 confirmed infections, and 35 deaths according to the health ministry.
Algeria: More medical aid arrives from China
Today, Algeria received a donation of medical equipment from China in coordination with the African Union,
the state-run APS news agency announced.
The donation includes protective equipment and testing equipment in addition to ventilators.

All African Union member states received the donation from the Jack Ma foundation, APS said.
Yesterday, the authorities said there were 90 new cases and 10 new deaths in Algeria, bringing the total to
2,160 and 336 respectively.
Morocco: State employees to donate three days' worth of their salaries
Yesterday, Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani announced that state employees and those
working in public establishments would donate three days' worth of their salaries to a fund that has been set
up to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in the county, the state-run MAP news agency announced.
Also yesterday, a foreign affairs ministry official said that there were 18,226 Moroccans stranded abroad - a
number which does not include students. The privately owned Tel Quel website noted the discrepancy with
the number cited by El Othmani on 13 April - 7,500.
Separately, the same official said today that families wishing to repatriate the bodies of their loved ones who
died abroad would be "accompanied" by the state in doing so, after the crisis is over.
Meanwhile, today, the authorities announced that there were 227 new cases in the country, brining the total
number to 2,251. Overall, 128 people have died and 247 have recovered.