BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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LONDON -- Another 148 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Friday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 44,798, the British Department of Health and Social Care said Saturday.

As of Saturday morning, 288,953 people have tested positive for the disease in Britain, a daily increase of 820, according to the department.

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BEIJING -- The representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in China on Saturday applauded the country for battling the COVID-19 outbreak, working with the global community, and sharing its experience.

"China has made great efforts in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, and is watchful of its resurgence," said Babatunde Ahonsi, a UNFPA representative in China, at a press conference held in Beijing.

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ALGIERS -- The death toll from the COVID-19 in Algeria exceeded 1,000 on Saturday since the first case was recorded on February 25.

Over the last 24 hours, 470 new COVID-19 cases and eight new fatalities were reported, bringing the total number of infections to 18,708 and the death toll to 1,004 in Algeria.

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ANKARA -- Turkey's confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 1,016 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infection cases to 211,981, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Saturday.

Koca tweeted that 21 more people have died, taking the death toll to 5,344.

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MUSCAT -- The Omani ministry of health announced on Saturday 1,083 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total confirmed number of the cases in the country to 54,697.

Meanwhile, four new fatalities were reported, bringing the death toll to 248, while the tally of recovered cases rose by 1,030 to 35,255, the ministry statement added.