Coronavirus: Iraq's deputy parliament speaker tests positive
Iraq’s deputy parliamentary speaker became the latest official this week to contract Covid-19, as infected cases rapidly spread across the hard-hit country on Wednesday.
Hassan Al Kaabi said in a statement that he "was tested for coronavirus after showing certain symptoms, and as the result was positive, he is currently in quarantine.”
Iraq’s infections from the novel coronavirus passed 200,000 as the health ministry said 211,947 cases had been recorded.
At least 6,596 people have died after contracting the virus, it said.
“I ask God almighty to protect Iraq and its people from the dangers of this dreaded epidemic and for those who contracted this virus a speedy recovery,” Mr Al Kaabi said on Facebook.
The country has reported more than 3,000 new cases a day in recent weeks as the spread of the virus has accelerated.
Iraqi politician Ghida Kambash died last month after contracting the virus, she became the first member to succumb to the virus.
The 46-year-old was a three-time MP from Baquba, north-east of Baghdad, and helped pass laws on education reform and social welfare.
The health ministry warned on Tuesday of a second wave that might begin in October while announcing that it is preparing a seasonal flu vaccine that will be made available to all citizens.
"The recent increase in the number of cases is due to two main reasons, the first is the citizens' failure to comply with the ministry’s official health instructions and the second is the increase in number of daily testing,” Abbas Al Husseini, a member of the Covid-19 Crisis Cell, said in a statement to local media.
Mr Al Husseini said that the second wave is expected to start in the middle of next October “which coincides with the spread of autumn flu”.
Since Iraq recorded its first infected case earlier this year, it has taken drastic measures to curb the virus’s spread, including closing schools and restaurants, banning public gatherings and shutting international borders.
The country’s health system, exhausted by years of war and poor investment, has been overwhelmed by the rising numbers.
Protective equipment, respirators and even hospital beds are all running low, forcing authorities to turn expo centers, stadiums and hotels into coronavirus wards and confinement centers.
The World Health Organisation warned last week that cases are "exponentially rising to an alarming and worrying level.”
Iraq’s infections from the novel coronavirus passed 200,000 as the health ministry said 211,947 cases had been recorded.
At least 6,596 people have died after contracting the virus, it said.
“I ask God almighty to protect Iraq and its people from the dangers of this dreaded epidemic and for those who contracted this virus a speedy recovery,” Mr Al Kaabi said on Facebook.
The country has reported more than 3,000 new cases a day in recent weeks as the spread of the virus has accelerated.
Iraqi politician Ghida Kambash died last month after contracting the virus, she became the first member to succumb to the virus.
The 46-year-old was a three-time MP from Baquba, north-east of Baghdad, and helped pass laws on education reform and social welfare.
The health ministry warned on Tuesday of a second wave that might begin in October while announcing that it is preparing a seasonal flu vaccine that will be made available to all citizens.
"The recent increase in the number of cases is due to two main reasons, the first is the citizens' failure to comply with the ministry’s official health instructions and the second is the increase in number of daily testing,” Abbas Al Husseini, a member of the Covid-19 Crisis Cell, said in a statement to local media.
Mr Al Husseini said that the second wave is expected to start in the middle of next October “which coincides with the spread of autumn flu”.
Since Iraq recorded its first infected case earlier this year, it has taken drastic measures to curb the virus’s spread, including closing schools and restaurants, banning public gatherings and shutting international borders.
The country’s health system, exhausted by years of war and poor investment, has been overwhelmed by the rising numbers.
Protective equipment, respirators and even hospital beds are all running low, forcing authorities to turn expo centers, stadiums and hotels into coronavirus wards and confinement centers.
The World Health Organisation warned last week that cases are "exponentially rising to an alarming and worrying level.”