Iraq warns of losing control of COVID-19 pandemic

The Iraqi Ministry of Health warned on Friday that the citizens' continued non-compliance with the health protective measures would "lead to a loss of control" over the COVID-19 pandemic, as the ministry reported 1,534 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily infections in 2021, reported Xinhua.

In a statement, the ministry said a package of protective measures might be applied in the coming days to break the chains of COVID-19 transmission and stop the increasing infections in the recent days.

"We renew our call to all citizens, governmental, and private institutions to adhere to the protective measures and the rules of wearing masks, physical distancing, and hands disinfection," it added.

A separate statement by the ministry reported 1,534 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily infections since the beginning of 2021, raising the total number nationwide to 625,756.

The new cases included 549 in the capital Baghdad, 268 in Najaf, 132 in Karbala, and Dhi Qar 116, according to the statement.

The ministry also reported 12 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 13,103, and 1,188 more recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 598,9147.

A total of 5,852,224 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February 2020, with 48,621 done during the day.

On Thursday, a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Iraq said the Chinese government donated 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Iraq.

Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Health said the Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs had approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm and Britain's AstraZeneca vaccines to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.