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WHO says lack of masks, distancing contributing to virus spread in Middle East

The WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean also said the number of infections in the area could be higher than reported.

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Ahmed al-Mandhari (screen), WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, speaks during a press briefing at the World Health Organization's regional office in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Feb. 19, 2020, following the outbreak of the coronavirus. — MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images

A top World Health Organization official said today that the Middle East is far from defeating COVID-19.

Ahmed al-Mandhari, the WHO's regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said people in the region are not adhering to health measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.

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