BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Friday recorded 3,461 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily increase since the outbreak of the disease, while the ministry spokesman said that more than 90 percent of the infections were between mild to moderate.
The new cases brought the total nationwide infections to 144,064, as the ministry's health teams and institutions have used 17,517 testing kits across the country during the day, raising the total testing kits used so far to 1,110,258, the ministry said in a statement.
It also reported 75 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll to 5,236, while 2,172 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 103,197.
The ministry spokesman Sayf al-Badr said in a statement that more than 90 percent of the cases are ranged between mild and moderate, criticizing some citizens who do not abide by the health preventive measures despite repeated calls by the health authorities.
As for the health ministry's policy in tackling the coronavirus pandemic, al-Badr pointed out "the ministry did not pursue the policy of herd immunity. Rather, it relied on a strategy for early detection and treatment of cases and a focus on health awareness in general."
Earlier, the health ministry frequently said the increase of COVID-19 infections was caused by lack of public compliance to the health instructions and stronger testing capacity with the increase of labs in Baghdad and other provinces.
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.
On July 26, Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety decided to extend the weekly full curfew from July 30 to Aug. 9.
China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.
Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
