COVID-19 claims 88 more lives in Iraq

By Halime Afra Aksoy

ISTANBUL (AA) - Health authorities in Iraq confirmed more fatalities and infections due to the novel coronavirus on Monday.

The Iraqi Health Ministry said 88 people died from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, pushing the nationwide death toll to 3,869.

The virus also reached 2,163 more people, bringing the total infections to 94,693, including 62,836 recoveries.

Last Thursday, Iraqi authorities eased a nationwide curfew introduced to curb the outbreak, and announced a schedule for further easing of international travel.

The government said the Higher Committee for Health and Public Safety decided to amend curfew hours to be effective Sunday from 9.30 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time (1630GMT to 0300GMT).

The previous curfew had been from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. (1600GMT to 0300GMT).

Malls will reopen with adherence to protective restrictions against the virus, underscoring the importance of wearing masks in public and maintaining social distancing.

It also resolved to lift the curfew completely after the Muslim Eid Al-Adha festival in early August, while adhering to preventive restrictions, and will reopen airports, as well as the Al-Munthiriya and al-Shaib border gates with Iran and the Safwan crossing with Kuwait for trade starting July 23.

Iraq implemented restrictions and suspended flights because of the pandemic in March.

The government has imposed a partial curfew, banned gatherings, and made the wearing of face masks mandatory in an effort to stem the virus’s spread.

Since originating in China last December, the pandemic has claimed over 607,100 lives in 188 countries and regions.

More than 14.56 million cases have been reported worldwide, while over 8.19 million patients have recovered so far, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara.