BAGHDAD, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday recorded 150 new cases of COVID-19, registering the highest daily increase so far.
Among the 150 new cases, 120 were registered in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the ministry said in a statement.
The new cases were recorded after 3,520 test kits were used across the country during the past 24 hours, according to the statement.
So far, 127 people have died from the disease in Iraq, while 2,310 have recovered, it added.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said at a press release that the health authorities decided to impose curfew on six districts in Baghdad for two weeks to curb the latest increase in COVID-10 cases.
The curfew will start on Wednesday in the districts of Sadr City, Habibiyah, Kamaliyah, Hurriyah, Shula and Ameriyah, al-Tamimi said.
He said that the implementation of the decision in these areas will coincide with the largest effective epidemiological monitoring with sterilization and health awareness campaigns.
"The same measures will be taken in the remaining districts of Baghdad and the other provinces if increases in the number of infections are detected," al-Tamimi added.
Iraq has been taking measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, including a nationwide curfew.
On May 10, the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to partially lift the curfew, while full curfew will continue for Friday and Saturday in addition to the three-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in late May.
Eid al-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fasting after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
On April 26, a Chinese team of medical experts left Iraq after a 50-day stay to support Iraq in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has also donated batches of medical supplies to Iraq to help combatting the coronavirus. Enditem
