Latest facts, figures of the COVID-19 pandemic: 

Thailand announces state of emergency

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on Wednesday an emergency decree, effective from March 26 until April 30, which provides stringent measures for authorities to contain the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country.

Saudi king orders closure of three cities

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered on Wednesday a complete closure of three cities to curb the COVID-19 spread, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The cities are Riyadh, Mecca and Medina, and no one can leave or enter them.

The orders would take effect from Thursday, and will start from 3 p.m. local time in the three cities. Meanwhile, a curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. has been imposed on the rest of the country.

Spain records steepest increase of the death toll

Spain registered 738 fatalities from the coronavirus over the past 24 hours in the steepest increase of the death toll since the pandemic hit the country, the health ministry reported on Wednesday.

The number of reported deaths from the virus rose to 3,434 on Tuesday, the ministry said. The overall number of cases soared to 47,610 on Tuesday.

Mali, Libya, Guinea-Bissau report first cases

The Malian government on Wednesday reported the country's first two confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The two cases are Malian nationals who returned from France on March 12 and 16 respectively.

On the same day, President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo confirmed the country's first two confirmed cases.

Libya's National Center for Disease Control has also confirmed the country's first case of the coronavirus in a statement.