Baghdad, May 16 (IANS) The Iraqi health ministry confirmed 50 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 3,193 in the country.
The new cases were recorded after 2,921 testings were carried out during the past 24 hours across the country, and a total of 143,494 testings since the outbreak of the disease, the ministry said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Most of the new cases were recorded in Iraq’s capital Baghdad with 31 cases, while the remaining ones were 13 in Basra, five in Sulaimaniyah and one in Maysan, according to the statement.
So far, up to 117 people have died from the disease, while 2,089 have recovered, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan Mohammed al-Tamimi warned that the hospitals will soon not be able to receive more COVID-19 and suspected patients if people continue not to abide by the preventive health restrictions.
“The numbers are increasing … Most of the quarantine centres have reached 100 per cent of capacity,” al-Tamimi said.
Iraq has been taking measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, including a nationwide curfew.
On May 10, the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to partially lift the curfew, while full curfew will continue for Friday and Saturday in addition to the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in late May.
Eid al-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fasting after the holy month of Ramadan.
On April 26, a Chinese team of medical experts left Iraq after a 50-day stay to support Iraq in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has also donated batches of medical supplies to Iraq to help combat the coronavirus.
–IANS
rt/