Iraq warns of new COVID-19 surge amid new virus variant, public break with health guidelines

The health ministry warned that the new, highly-contagious coronavirus variant poses a “serious threat” to Iraq’s public healthcare system.
Health Worker in a COVID-19 treatment center in Kurdistan Region. (Photo: Archive)
Health Worker in a COVID-19 treatment center in Kurdistan Region. (Photo: Archive)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Ministry of Health and Environment on Saturday warned of an upsurge in new coronavirus infections in the country due to a lack of public adherence to preventive measures and the new highly-transmissible virus variant.

The ministry is “closely monitoring” the latest coronavirus developments around the world “after the outbreak of a new strain, which is characterized by its rapid spread,” it said in a statement.

The ministry warned that the new, highly-contagious coronavirus variant poses a “serious threat” to Iraq’s public healthcare system, which has been stretched thin by the pandemic. Countries that have detected the new virus variant have tightened lockdown measures to prevent its spread.

Governments in Europe and northern America are currently vaccinating parts of their population against the coronavirus. At least one study has shown that the Pfizer/BioNTech immunization shots—which Iraq has ordered—are effective against the new variant.

The Iraqi ministry noted that though “the situation in Iraq has improved significantly,” the country remains “at risk of a new surge in infections due to the continued travel of Iraqis and foreigners from countries with outbreak to Iraq and vice versa.”

Public health officials have repeatedly called on citizens to adhere to precautionary measures as a critical step towards preventing infection.

However, health teams have monitored “in Baghdad, and other provinces, a great lack of [public] care for preventive measures.” The ministry noted that citizens do not wear masks, socially distance, or sanitize in public places. It also added that people have resumed social customs such as shaking hands, hugging, and kissing.

Iraq on Saturday recorded 907 new coronavirus infections, and four deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections since the beginning of the outbreak in late Feb. 2020 to 602,331, including 554,990 recoveries, and 12,881 deaths. 

Editing by Khrush Najari