BAGHDAD, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Health Ministry on Monday confirmed one more death from COVID-19 and six new cases, bringing the total number of the infected in the country to 133.
The new cases included three in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, two in Najaf, and one in Diwaniyah, the ministry said in a statement.
Of the 133 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, 10 have died, while 32 others have recovered, the statement said.
On Sunday, the Iraqi crisis committee, headed by Iraqi Health Minister Jaafar Sadiq Allawi, took several measures to contain the spread of the disease, including imposing a week-long curfew in Baghdad from March 17 to 23.
It also decided to suspend the work of the governmental and non-governmental institutions, except for the security, service, and health institutions and diplomats, as well as authorized media and the commercial movement of goods and food.
The statement also confirmed the committee's earlier decision to ban the movement of the citizens between the Iraqi provinces from March 15 to 25, with the exception for goods and emergency needs.
To help Iraq cope with the coronavirus spread, a Chinese team of seven experts arrived in Baghdad on March 7. They are working with Iraqi counterparts in the fight against the viral respiratory disease, which has largely been taken under control in China after a nationwide campaign launched since late January. Enditem
