Iraq’s Health Ministry said on Wednesday that borders must close to contain the spread of the coronavirus, as authorities report more than 9,000 new infections daily.
Records showed there were 9,635 more cases and 47 more deaths on Wednesday.
“The Ministry of Health and Environment is closely monitoring the situation with great concern, this is why we will make recommendations that may include taking the most strict measures in the event of a serious increase in infections,” the ministry said.
The measures may include imposing “a full lockdown and closing the borders to contain the spread of the infection and deaths”, it said.
Iraq is still recovering from decades of war and insurgency, which have done serious damage to its health system and its oil-dependent economy.
Iraq has recorded more than 1.4 million Covid-19 cases and more than 17,700 deaths since the pandemic started in March 2020.
Only 1 per cent of Iraq's 40 million population have been vaccinated since the programme began in March this year because of public scepticism about inoculations. Many Iraqis do not abide by the public health measures created to stop the virus from spreading.
Iraq has so far ordered 18 million doses of various vaccines, including those made by AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech.
Health Ministry spokesman Saif Al Badr blamed hesitation to book inoculations on a "misinformation campaign which preceded the arrival of the vaccine".
“The ministry regrets the lack of co-operation by the citizens in implementing preventive measures and the delay in taking the vaccine that’s available in all hospitals and health centre."
The ministry urged influential public and religious figures to stress the importance of following health regulations such as wearing masks and maintaining social distances.
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Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
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Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
more from Janine di Giovanni
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
