BAGHDAD, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday 4,690 new coronavirus cases, the highest daily record in 2021, bringing the total nationwide infections to 703,778.
It also reported in a statement 30 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 13,458, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 3,517 to 643,156.
A total of 6,920,965 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February 2020, with 39,144 done during the day.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Minster of Health Hassan al-Tamimi said in a press release that Iraq received a shipment of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Chinese government on Tuesday and distributed the vaccine to all the Iraqi provinces.
Al-Tamimi said that the vaccination process has begun with the frontline health workers.
Al-Tamimi's comments came hours after the arrival of a batch of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Chinese government as part of China's assistance to Iraq's efforts in combating the coronavirus pandemic.
The batch of Sinopharm vaccines is the first to reach Iraq at a critical time, as the country is facing an increase in coronavirus infections after the spread of a new variant of the virus recently.
Iraq has taken a series of measures to curb the recent rise in infections after the Ministry of Health announced on Feb. 15 the detection of a new strain of coronavirus, characterized by its severity and faster transmission.
The Iraqi National Board for Selection of Drugs has approved the emergency use of China's Sinopharm and Britain's AstraZeneca vaccines to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Enditem
