COVID-19: Iraq reports over 2,700 new cases and about 1700 recoveries

According to official data, the total number of COVID-19 infections in Iraq has crossed 75,194.

Mustafa Shilani 2020/07/11 13:49

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Saturday, Iraq's Ministry of Health and Environment announced 2,734 new coronavirus infections, 1,699 recoveries, and 95 deaths due to complications related to the disease in the past 24 hours.

In its daily statement, the ministry mentioned that health workers had conducted 10,377 tests across the country in the same period, raising the total to 671,478 since the disease first entered the country.

According to official data, the total number of infections in Iraq has crossed 75,194, which includes 43,079 recoveries, 3,055 deaths, 29,060 active cases.

Earlier on Saturday, the Iraqi parliament's crisis cell warned of a "new disaster" due to the highly-contagious coronavirus disease following the federal government's order to resume flights for citizens seeking to return from abroad or travel outside the country.

Authorities state that any person reentering the country would have to self-quarantine for 14 days, the incubation period for the virus.

The 14-day quarantine helps ensure that people who have been exposed to the disease and might yet come down with it do not infect others.

Previously, Iraqi officials threatened criminal prosecution of citizens not following health restrictions and they extended the nationwide partial shutdown until at least July 20.

Crisis Cell member Fadhil Fatlawi emphasized that citizens should only be allowed to travel outside Iraq for "necessary cases," stressing that "such a decision must be studied thoroughly and carefully."

"Cases of coronavirus in Iraq have risen after allowing the return of those stranded abroad," Fatlawi claimed. He also warned of "a new disaster" should the government reduce travel restrictions "without applying the correct and strict health and preventive measures."

Editing by Khrush Najari