Iraq extends curfew to contain COVID-19

The Iraqi authorities Tuesday decided to extend the nationwide curfew until April 19 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to Iraqi health minister.

Jaafar Sadiq Allawi, also head of the Iraqi crisis committee to contain COVID-19, said in an interview with the local Dijla TV channel that the committee decided to extend the curfew until April 19.

Allawi also predicted that the pandemic will end in June if the people could abide the curfew.

Earlier in the month, the crisis committee took several measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including an earlier decision to extend the nationwide curfew until April 11.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Health Ministry reported a total of 694 cases of COVID-19, of whom 50 have died and 170 others recovered.

To help Iraq cope with the coronavirus epidemic, a Chinese team of seven experts has been working with their Iraqi counterparts since March 7 in the fight against the viral respiratory disease.