Health

Iraq warns most patients hospitalized for COVID-19 are 'unvaccinated'

The recent rise in infections due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant has been accompanied by an increase in the number of hospitalizations, according to the Iraqi health ministry.

Mustafa Shilani 2022/01/18 22:25

Iraqi doctors stick labels on locally made testing components for COVID-19 in Basra, Iraq, March 29, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS / Essam Al-Sudani)

Iraq Iraq COVID-19

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq's Ministry of Health on Tuesday warned of the hyper-infectious properties of the Omicron variant, noting that most patients currently being hospitalized for COVID-19 are "unvaccinated."

There has been "a rapid increase in infections" recently due to the Omicron strand, the ministry noted in a statement. First detected in South Africa, the new variant spreads even faster than the already super-contagious Delta variant.

The rise in cases, according to the ministry, has been accompanied by an increase in the number of hospitalizations. It also stated that most people seeking COVID-19 treatment in hospitals are "unvaccinated."

Though the ministry did say the country's medical institutions can handle the new wave, the situation raises concerns that increased hospital admissions are further straining Iraq's fragile healthcare system.

The statement repeated calls on unvaccinated individuals to take the time to get COVID-19 vaccines as it is the most effective way to reduce the chance of getting infected and, even in breakthrough cases, significantly decrease the likelihood of hospitalization.

It also reiterated the importance of taking necessary precautions such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large crowds in public.

Iraqi healthcare workers recorded 6,487 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, including ten deaths, raising the total number of infections since the beginning of the pandemic to 2,125,266, including 24,262 deaths.