COVID-19: Iraq continues steady increase in new infections, deaths
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq continued its steady incline in the number of new coronavirus infections and deaths on Saturday, reporting in a single day over 2,000 cases and 100 fatalities.
An Iraqi health ministry statement said that, out of close to 10,000 tests health workers had conducted within a 24-hour period, 2,069 had returned positive for the higly-infectious disease. The country has now conducted about 510,000 examinations, according to official data.
Most of the new cases were recorded in the populous capital of Baghdad, the epicenter of the disease in Iraq. At the same time, nearly 1,100 people also recovered from the disease, the statement wrote.
The ministry also reported that 101 more patients succumbed to the highly contagious disease, raising the total to 1,660 across the country, including the Kurdistan Region.
Since the outbreak began in Iraq—after the virus crossed Iranian borders in February—the virus has infected over 43,000 people, according to the health ministry. Out of all, about 20,000 patients have recovered, while more than 21,500 cases remain active, 254 of which reportedly remain in critical condition.
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The spike in infections comes as struggling local economies pushed provincial governments in Iraq to reopen their doors for business since merchants and employees have found it near impossible to make ends meet during the shutdown despite limited relief efforts.
In many provinces, there is still a nighttime curfew in place.
Amid the reopening, however, senior health officials have stated that citizens have not abided by health regulations—such as social distancing and wearing masks in public—that have proven effective in limiting person-to-person transmission.
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Along with the coronavirus pandemic, Iraq, like many other countries worldwide, has been hit with a simultaneous economic crisis. It is also witnessing a weakened though still significant period of civil strife that and an uptick in terrorist activity, especially in the country's central provinces.
Editing by John J. Catherine