Politics

After coronavirus emerges in Iraq, gov't approves emergency budget

Shortly after the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Iraq were announced, the nation's council of ministers allocated an emergency budget to the nation's Health Ministry on Tuesday and local governments increased their preventive measures aimed at halting the spread of the contagious disease.

Mustafa Shilani 2020/02/25 17:10

middle east Iraq Kurdistan Kirkuk Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The day after Iraq announced the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Iraq, the nation's council of ministers allocated an emergency budget to the nation's Health Ministry on Tuesday and local governments increased their preventive measures aimed at halting the spread of the contagious disease.

“Preventing the spread of the coronavirus must be given the highest priority and highest attention,” read a statement by Iraq's health minister following a cabinet meeting that day.

Baghdad confirmed that the first case of coronavirus on Monday, officially known as COVID-19, had been contracted by an Iranian student in the southern city of Najaf. The following day, Iraq confirmed another four cases in the disputed province of Kirkuk among a family who had recently returned from a visit to Iran.

The council of ministers decided to provide necessary and urgent funding to Iraq’s health ministry and provincial governments within two days to strengthen preparedness to effectively deal with any additional cases of the disease's transmission and prevent it from spreading further.

The governor's office in Kirkuk’s also announced its decision to suspend all public schools, universities, and colleges until further notice, while also forbidding all ceremonial celebrations and public gatherings, including weddings and funeral receptions.

The Kurdistan Region and Iraq have already temporarily closed all border crossings with neighboring Iran and halted all commercial flights to the country, where the confirmed cases of coronavirus continue to rise with death tolls reaching up to 12 people.

The coronavirus has spread to over 25 countries, including China – where it originated – the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Russia, Singapore, and India among others. The World Health Organization has already declared the outbreak an international health emergency.

There are around 80,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus all around the world, over 77,000 of which are in mainland China. So far, over 2,600 people have died suffering from the virus with 27,000 more recovering.

Editing by John J. Catherine