Iraq assigns 2 COVID-19 testing centers, total death toll exceeds 4,000
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E-mail Xinhua, July 23, 2020
BAGHDAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Wednesday said it has assigned two centers in Baghdad to test coronavirus infection for travelers just a day before reopening airports, while the ministry said that the total nationwide death toll climbed to 4,042.
A statement by the ministry said that it has assigned the laboratories of the Medical City in central Baghdad and Yarmouk Hospital in western the city to conduct COVID-19 tests for travelers who want to leave Iraq, after an earlier decision by the health authorities to resume flights starting from July 23.
The authorities' decision required the travelers to abide by the health preventive measures and pledge to stay for 14 days of home-quarantine upon their return after conducting COVID-19 tests at the two centers.
Meanwhile, the ministry recorded 2,706 COVID-19 cases during the day, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 99,865, the ministry said in a separate statement.
It also reported 92 more deaths during the day, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 4,042.
The statement also said that 2,197 people recovered, bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 67,147.
The new cases were recorded after 18,416 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 844,218 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement.
On July 16, the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by the Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to reduce the hours of the partial curfew, except for the full curfew on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
It also decided to completely lift the curfew after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which is expected to end in the early days of August according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
The committee's decision also included the opening of the Iraqi airports for flights on July 23, in addition to reopening two crossing border points with neighboring Iran and one with Kuwait for commercial exchange.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.
China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
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