Iraq has dramatically increased its testing in recent weeks to more than 40,000 tests per day, almost double the testing capacity it had when daily coronavirus cases peaked in September.
Iraq has dramatically increased its testing in recent weeks to more than 40,000 tests per day, almost double the testing capacity it had when daily coronavirus cases peaked in September.
Iraq has dramatically increased its testing in recent weeks to more than 40,000 tests per day, almost double the testing capacity it had when daily coronavirus cases peaked in September.
Iraq has dramatically increased its testing in recent weeks to more than 40,000 tests per day, almost double the testing capacity it had when daily coronavirus cases peaked in September.

MENA

Iraq

Coronavirus: Iraq records 160,000 new cases in third wave

Country's health care is suffering from years of conflict and sanctions

Mina Aldroubi
Mina Aldroubi

July 22, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Iraq has recorded 160,000 new cases of coronavirus during the last few weeks as it enters its third wave of the pandemic, the country’s national news agency said.

Health authorities have been reporting at least 9,000 new daily cases of the virus, as the aggressive Delta variant continues to spread.

Only about 1.8 per cent of the population of 40 million people have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and few people are adhering to health measures to stem the rise in cases.

“Iraq has officially entered the third wave of the pandemic as the number of critical cases in hospitals has reached more than 160,000. Of those, 750 are in intensive care,” Falah Al Ziyadi, a member of Iraq’s parliamentary Health and Environment Committee said.

“Young people are the most vulnerable,” Mr Al Ziyadi said.

The Iraqi official urged people to follow guidelines set by the Supreme Committee for Health and Safety to curb the spread of the virus.

He said “ministries and state institutions must also adhere to health guidelines”.

“Taking the full vaccination and abiding by the health recommendations will help combat the virus,” he said.

The committee called on all religious, cultural, civil society members to encourage the public to get vaccinated to reach “national immunity”.

The Health Ministry says the increase is causing severe pressure on hospitals, which are running out of beds to cater for severely sick patients.

Decades of conflict and international sanctions before 2003 have left the country's healthcare system on its knees. Hospitals suffer poor management, a lack of supplies, equipment and staff, and are now struggling to treat the sickest patients.

“The ministry has launched a national appeal to all Iraqis to co-operate with its strict guidelines and help its staff to stop the spreading of the virus,” said the ministry.

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Fund-raising tips for start-ups

Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months

Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses

Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business

* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Whiile you're here
THE LOWDOWN

Photograph

Rating: 4/5

Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies

Director: Ritesh Batra

Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz

Updated: July 22, 2021, 6:46 PM
IraqCoronavirus