BAGHDAD, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Friday 685 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 612,092.
It also reported seven new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,984, and 1,567 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 578,292.
A total of 5,305,002 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 37,828 done during the day, according to the statement.
On Jan. 19, the ministry said in a statement that the Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs (NBSD) had approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm and British AstraZeneca vaccines to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Previously, the NBSD already approved the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to combat the pandemic.
Iraq has taken a series of measures to contain the pandemic since the first coronavirus case appeared in the country.
China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
From March 7 to April 26 in 2020, 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.
China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
