Basra reports first death due to coronavirus

The deceased was a recent returnee from Iran who visited the country to undergo cardiac surgery.

Kurdistan 24 2020/03/10 04:55

middle east COVID-19 Coronavirus Iraq Basra

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani announced on Monday the death of a 75-year-old man due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), marking the first death from the virus in the province.

The Basra Health Directorate declared in a statement that the deceased was a recent returnee from Iran who visited the country to undergo cardiac surgery.

The death comes as a surprise since there were no previously confirmed cases in Basra.

According to the latest figures on COVID-19 by Iraqi public health authorities, Iraq has reported seven confirmed deaths – including one in Basra – and 67 confirmed cases of the virus.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany