COVID-19: Iraq extends flight ban, reports over 2,000 recoveries, infections in single day

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Ministry of Health and Environment on Monday reported 2,229 new COVID-19 infections as well as 2,274 recoveries and 100 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 15,380 tests across the country in the same period, raising the total to 698,012 since the disease first entered the country. Out of the total examinations, 2,229 returned positive.

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According to official data, the total number of infections in Iraq has crossed 79,735, which includes 46,998 recoveries, 3,250 deaths, 29,487 active cases.

Flight ban extended

On Monday, Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced it had extended a flight ban on commercial flights until July 22, a precautionary measure to curb the further spread of COVID-19.

The extension came as a federal government’s order indicated commercial flights would resume for citizens seeking to return from abroad or travel outside the country.

Read More: Iraq announces record 2,848 COVID-19 infections, over 70 deaths in single day

Authorities state that any person re-entering the country has 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.

The federal Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to suspend all international passenger flights was first made on March 17 and was planned to last for a week as the government began to take preventive measures to counter the spread of the coronavirus. However, it was extended several times afterward. The latest one is expected to end on May 22. 

Iraqi officials previously 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 Karzan Sulaivany