BEIRUT (AP) – Coronavirus infections have been on the rise in the 22 countries of the eastern Mediterranean region after two months of steady decline because of increased international travel, low protection and limited vaccination, World Health Organization officials said Wednesday. The region, which includes the Persian Gulf, North African and Asian countries, has registered over 11 million infections and over 220,000 deaths since last year. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, regional director of the WHO, said another spike is likely in the summer months as countries struggle to keep their borders open and their economies active.