BAGHDAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Friday 2,545 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide infections to 547,215.
The ministry also reported 42 new deaths and 1,921 more recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,167 and the total recoveries have reached 476,297.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the ministry directed the health teams in Baghdad and other provinces to carry out test campaigns for teachers and students with the start of the new school year to ensure that they are not infected with the coronavirus.
INA also reported that the ministry "called on citizens to cooperate with the health teams to conduct coronavirus tests to contain the spread of the virus in the country."
Earlier in the month, the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said in a statement that the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety decided to start the school year on Nov. 29 under health restrictions.
The health ministry frequently attributes the increase of COVID-19 infections to the public's failure to comply with health instructions and to a 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
