Syria reported 20 new cases of the novel coronavirus, the largest single-day increase to date, the country's health ministry said.

According to Reuters, the war-torn country has recorded 106 infections and four deaths so far, and new cases have increased in recent days with the return of Syrians from abroad.

Health Minister Nizar Yazigi said last week that “coercive and unfair” Western sanctions were hitting medical services needed to cope with coronavirus and he called for their removal.