The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 203 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 1,346 samples tested in the last 24 hours.

The ministry also reported 32 deaths and 665 recoveries from COVID-19 in the same period. The figures show a significant drop in the number of new cases and deaths from the virus.

The new cases were reported in Kabul (26), Kandahar (4), Nangarhar (18), Kunduz (4), Takhar (12), Baghlan (20), Helmand (15), Bamiyan (6), Ghazni (21), Nimroz (8), Daikundi (15), Kunar (9), Laghman (16), Jawzjan (15) and Sar-e-Pul (11) provinces.

The deaths were reported in Kabul (5), Kandahar (1), Balkh (3), Kunduz (2), Takhar (2), Faryab (2), Maidan Wardak (1), Helmand (2), Badakhshan (1), Nimroz (2), Paktia (4), Laghman (1), Ghor (1), Farah (4) and Khost (1) provinces. 

Data by the ministry shows that the total number of cases is 143,869, total deaths stand at 6,425 and total recoveries are at 91,835.

According to the data, COVID-19 positivity rate in the country is 15.08%.

Meanwhile, The Higher Education Ministry said universities and higher education institutes will reopen gradually within the next two weeks in provinces with low COVID-19 cases. But he added that prior to that, students will get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world stands at 193,165,622 and total deaths are at 4,143,105, according to Johns Hopkins University.