BAGHDAD, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Saturday confirmed 55 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 1,763.
The 55 new cases reported during the past 24 hours were 33 in the capital Baghdad, 12 in Basra, three in Dhi Qar, two in Muthanna, Slaimaniyah and Duhok each, and one in Erbil, the ministry said in a statement.
So far, 86 have died from the disease while 1,224 recovered, the statement said, adding no death was registered during the day.
The Iraqi authorities have taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 including a nationwide curfew.
On April 19, the Iraqi authorities decided to partially lift the curfew from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m between April 21 and May 22 except for Friday and Saturday, which covers most of the holy month of Ramadan starting April 24.
However, Abbas al-Husseini, a member of the crisis committee headed by Iraqi Minister of Health Jaafar Sadiq Allawi, predicted the return of previous nationwide curfew measures.
"We are on the verge of re-imposing the full curfew with the help of the of the security forces, as many of the citizens do not abide by the health preventive measures," al-Husseini told local media.
On April 20, a third batch of Chinese medical aid arrived in Baghdad as part of China's assistance to boost Iraq's capability to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
China sent the first batch of medical aid to Iraq on March 7, with a medical team of seven Chinese experts to work with their Iraqi counterparts to fight the coronavirus. The second batch of Chinese aid arrived on April 8. Enditem
