BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Tuesday 2,218 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 554,767.
It also reported 48 new deaths and 1,896 more recovered cases in the country, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,306 and the total recoveries to 484,570.
A total of 3,512,920 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 29,601 done during the day, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Hassan Nadhim, spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, said in a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting that "the health minister confirmed during the weekly session of the Council of Ministers that the rate of the recovery from the coronavirus is constantly increasing in the country."
However, the health minister warned that "the risks of the spread of the coronavirus infections are still high in Iraq," according to Nadhim.
Earlier, the Health Ministry frequently attributed 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. Enditem
