Iraq Registers Record Number of Daily COVID-19 Cases

Arab World

March 21st, 9:12am

Baghdad – Asharq Al-Awsat

A Basra resident receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot. (AP)

Iraq’s Health Ministry has expressed concern over the record surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. In a statement Saturday, the ministry said the rate of infections has recently exceeded 5,000 per day, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. This surge may eventually prevent health institutions from treating critical cases, which would lead to more deaths, it warned. The ministry criticized people’s non-compliance with health precautions, especially in populated and rural areas throughout the country. It announced 32 new deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the toll to 13,969, while 3,795 people recovered, bringing the total to 710,699. It also recorded 4,674 new cases, taking the tally to 789,390 since the beginning of the pandemic.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2872521/iraq-registers-record-number-daily-covid-19-cases