BAGHDAD, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi health ministry said on Friday that 2,603 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed and 104 deaths recorded in the country.
In addition, 60 new cases were recorded after 2,337 testing kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement.
The new cases were 34 in the capital Baghdad, 12 in Basra, nine in Maysan, two in Dhi Qar and Salahudin each and one in Diyala, the statement added.
So far, 1,661 have recovered, according to the statement.
The Iraqi authorities have taken measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including a nationwide curfew.
In April, the Iraqi authorities decided to partially lift the curfew from 6 a.m. to 6 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.
On May 4, a statement by the office of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Mahdi, decided to implement odd-even vehicle rationing system in the country starting May 5 without specifying the period of validity of the decision.
On April 26, a Chinese team of medical experts left Iraq after 50-day stay to support the Iraqi health system to contain the pandemic.
China has also donated medical aid to Iraq to combat the coronavirus pandemic. On March 7, China sent the first batch of medical aid to Iraq, followed by the second batch on April 8, and the third on April 20. Enditem
