COVID-19 death toll climbs in Iraq, as confirmed infections exceed 1700

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The number of deaths from the new coronavirus disease in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, has reached 86, as total infections exceed 1700, according to the latest figures by the federal health ministry.

The ministry said that health authorities had recorded three new coronavirus deaths on Friday, two in Baghdad and one in Muthanna provinces. It also said 31 new cases were confirmed across nine provinces.

According to the local authorities in Muthanna province, the latest death they recorded was that of a young man who showed "other kinds" of symptoms, and his infection was believed to be "more serious." Health Ministry officials, however, have ruled out possibilities that he may have had a different type of coronavirus.

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The ministry says the number of confirmed infections in Iraq has risen to 1,708, of which 1,204 have recovered. 86 people have died so far due to coronavirus-related complications. Out of the total active cases, 418 people remain hospitalized.

The latest figures indicate a marked uptick in the number of confirmed cases and deaths, despite testing for the virus staying relatively similar. This has led to health authorities to express fears of a second outbreak in Iraq.

Iraq adopted strict preventive measures as the disease--which entered the country through Iran, the regional epicenter--began to spread. Measures included a total curfew that local authorities relaxed recently as the holy month of Ramada arrived.

Officially referred to as COVID-19, the highly-contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus was first reported by Chinese authorities in late 2019. As it continues to spread worldwide, it has infected over 2.8 million people and killed more than 197,000, according to government-reported data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Editing by Kosar Nawzad