BAGHDAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed 49 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 2,480 in the country.
The 49 new cases were recorded after 4,242 test kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement.
The new cases included 31 in the capital Baghdad, 11 in Basra, three each in Erbil and Karbala and one in Muthanna, the ministry said in a statement.
So far, Iraq has reported 2,480 COVID-19 cases, out of whom 102 have died while 1,602 others recovered, the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Health Minister Jaafar Sadiq Allawi warned of breaking the health restrictions by carrying out gatherings that could be harmful to the public health.
A statement by the ministry said that Allawi reminded everyone of the legal penalties, which could reach up to three years in prison, for the violation of the decisions previously issued by the crisis committee, headed by Allawi, which prevented gatherings such funerals, weddings and any events.
The Iraqi authorities have taken measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including a nationwide curfew.
Earlier 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 from April 24.
On May 4, a statement by the office of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said that the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Mahdi, decided to implement odd-even vehicle rationing system in the country starting from May 5 without giving further details about 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
