COVID-19: Iraq records major surge with 781 new cases and 21 deaths
On Wednesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment announced 21 deaths caused by the coronavirus and 781 new cases, yet again breaking record daily figures of infections since the highly-contagious disease was first recorded inside the borders of the embattled nation.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Wednesday, the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment announced 21 deaths caused by the coronavirus and 781 new cases, yet again breaking record daily figures of infections since the highly-contagious disease was first recorded inside the borders of the embattled nation.
The ministry said in a statement that 8,585 individuals had been tested for COVID-19 by federal health workers in the previous 24 hours with results for 781 of them coming back positive. The total number of confirmed infections has increased to 8,168, 256 of which have been fatal. Nearly 4,100 individuals are reported as having recovered, leaving 3,817 active cases, 46 of which are being treated at intensive care wards.
The numbers do not include the most recent tests conducted in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, which has its own health ministry. Since regional health officials typically announce results later in the day than their federal counterparts in Baghdad, the region's numbers are usually added to the following day's national tally.
For two successive days, senior officials from the Ministry of Health in neighboring Iran have warned of a spike in coronavirus infections in their country, almost certainly contributing to the recent rise in cases throughout Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Read More: COVID-19 spikes again in Iran, with regional implications
Another statement released on Wednesday by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior called on the public to follow curfews and other health restrictions now in place.
"The various sectors of the ministry continue to implement total lockdown measures and we urge citizens to strictly abide by the curfew and not go out into the streets and markets except when absolutely necessary," the statement read, adding, "All citizens must take the warnings of the Ministry of Health very seriously and not add to0 the risk of increasing infections, and further pressure the health system in the country."
It concluded, "The Ministry of Interior will continue to carry out its duties without complacency or leniency since health security is the responsibility of everyone: citizens, health authorities, and security services."
Editing by John J. Catherine