Iraqi camp for displaced in Mosul records its first Covid-19 case
Iraq confirmed the first case of coronavirus in a camp near Mosul for the internally displaced, as authorities on Thursday spoke of a health catastrophe.
The Iraqi Migration Ministry said that one person tested positive in the Hassan Sham camp for families who fled fighting in Mosul during the battle against ISIS and that 95 people were tested after coming into contact with the infected individual.
The other tests came back negative, the ministry said.
Across Iraq, the number of cases has been rising rapidly since the government eased movement restrictions for Ramadan. The government still advises people to stay home where possible.
“We are calling for an urgent meeting between parliament and the Covid-19 crisis committee with the presence of Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi,” the deputy parliamentary speaker, Hassan Al Kaabi, said on Thursday.
The meeting will be to “find out why there is an increase in the number of infected cases and to accelerate the development of effective solutions to contain the spread of the disease”.
Iraq has 5,457 recorded cases with 179 fatalities.
Coronavirus cases in the Gulf region on Thursday passed 200,000.
The UAE announced 563 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the lowest in three weeks.
The cases were identified after a further 38,000 tests were carried out across the country. The total number of infections in the country is now 32,532.
More than two million Covid-19 tests have been conducted in the Emirates since the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention said 314 patients had recovered since Wednesday and three died.
The figures bring the country’s total to 16,685 recoveries and 258 deaths since the first cases were announced in late January.
Saudi Arabia said restrictions would be eased in phases, culminating on June 21 with total lifting of a curfew, with the exception of Makkah.
From Sunday, congregations, including at Friday prayers, will be allowed in mosques, again except in Makkah