Iraq reports 35 new COVID-19 cases, 1,574 in total

The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday confirmed 35 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 1,574 in the country.

The 35 new cases are 13 in the capital Baghdad, 12 in Basra, eight in Muthanna and one in Najaf and Dhi Qar each, the ministry said in a statement.

So far, 82 patients died from the disease while 1,043 others recovered, the statement said, adding that no death was registered during the day.

The Iraqi authorities have taken several measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, including imposing a nationwide curfew.

The Iraqi authorities decided on Sunday to partially lift the earlier imposed curfew hours from April 21 to May 22, except for Friday and Saturday during the period.

The partial curfew will also cover most of the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start on April 24 or 25 according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

The measures also included continuously preventing internal and external travels as well as the movement between the provinces.

Earlier in the day, a third batch of Chinese medical aid arrived in Baghdad as part of China's assistance to boost Iraq's capability to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 7, China sent the first batch of medical aid to Iraq, with a medical team of seven Chinese experts to work with their Iraqi counterparts to fight the coronavirus, while the second batch of aid arrived on April 8.