BAGHDAD, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Monday 4,044 new COVID-19 cases, raising the nationwide total number to 430,678.
The new cases included 1,542 in the capital Baghdad, 406 in Duhok, 326 in Erbil and 300 in Sulaimaniyah, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also reported 63 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 10,317 in the country.
It also said 3,055 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 363,532.
A total of 2,644,770 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 20,419 done during the day, according to the statement.
The ministry has attributed the increase of COVID-19 infections to the lack of public compliance to the health instructions and the stronger testing capacity with the increase of labs in Baghdad and other provinces.
Iraq has taken a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first coronavirus case appeared in the country.
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
