BAGHDAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Thursday reported 83 deaths from COVID-19, the highest daily record so far, raising the total fatalities in the country to 856.

Meanwhile, 1,463 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, bringing the tally of infections to 25,717, while 11,333 patients have recovered, the ministry said in a statement.

The new cases included 515 in the capital Baghdad, 136 in Sulaimaniyah, 134 in Maysan, 118 in Wasit, 109 in Najaf and 101 in Basra, while the remaining cases were registered in other provinces, the ministry said.

A total of 413,966 tests have been carried out in Iraq, including 10,578 tests during the past 24 hours, since the outbreak of the disease in late February.

Moreover, a source from the crisis committee of Diyala province told reporters that up to 45 doctors and pharmacists had tested positive with coronavirus, one of them died, two recovered and the remaining 42 are still receiving treatment and being quarantined.

Two days ago, Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said that many medical workers in Iraq have been infected with COVID-19.

"We are fighting a fierce enemy and our medical staff have been infected with the pandemic, but they are still serving the infected people at the quarantine centers," al-Tamimi said in a statement.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, 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 an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem

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