COVID-19: Iraq records 1,724 new cases; authorities extend measures

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment announced on Monday 1,796 new coronavirus infections, 1,724 recoveries, and 94 deaths due to complications related to the disease over the past 24 hours.

In its daily statement, the health ministry mentioned that health workers had conducted 11,519 tests over 24 hours, raising the total to 612,607 since the virus first entered Iraq in late February.

According to official data, the total number of coronavirus cases has reached 62,275, of which 34,741 have recovered. Out of all those infected, 2,567 have died while 24,967 of the cases remain active, the ministry said in its statement.

Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi National Health and Safety Committee issued a statement that reiterated calls on the public to adhere to social distancing rules and wear masks to curb the spread of the disease.

The body stated authorities would hold violators accountable. Nationwide partial shutdowns would continue until July 20, the committee said.

It also agreed on the resumption of trade through the Shalamjah and Mandali border-crossings with Iran for two days a week. Employees at the crossings are obliged to enforce preventive measures to prevent viral transmission and avoid interactions with their Iranian counterparts.

The coronavirus disease, formally referred to as COVID-19, was first reported by Chinese authorities in late 2019 and has since spread in over 180 countries worldwide.

To date, it has infected over 11.6 million people and killed more than 538,000, according to government-reported data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The actual figures could be dramatically higher due to insufficient testing capabilities or underreporting, particularly in countries that have weak health systems.

Editing by Khrush Najari