Iraq’s coronavirus cases will sharply rise within the next 10 days, the World Health Organisation said, as the death toll in the country climbed to 51 on Wednesday.
Iraq, struggling to cope with a devastated health system, has 697 known infections, making it one of the worst-affected countries in the region.
Because testing is limited many believe the number to be much higher.
Dr Adham Ismail, the WHO's representative in Iraq, said the increase in testing will be of “high importance in terms of infection transmission and control”.
The WHO says the figures are “still moderate so far but expects a spike in the coming weeks” because of the increase in testing.
A total of 169 recoveries have been confirmed in the past 24 hours.
Most confirmed patients have travelled to badly affected destinations such as Iran, China and Europe.
“Three laboratories became operational for Covid-19 testing in Najaf, Basra and Baghdad Medical City in Baghdad," the WHO said.
"This has increased the numbers of tested cases to more than 4,500 tests a day, compared to a maximum of 100 a day a few weeks ago."
The eruption of the virus in neighbouring Iran increased the likelihood of the disease spreading in Iraq, the organisation said.
“It necessitated faster prevention and infection control measures, especially in the holy cities and pilgrimage sites, bordering governorates and vulnerable communities in internally displaced people and refugee camps.”
The spokesman for Iraq’s Health Ministry, Said Al Badr, said on Wednesday that the health sector lacked equipment, staff and preparation for the outbreak.
“Until now we are controlling the situation but will face a series of challenges if our requests are not met by the government,” Mr Al Badr said.
The ministry has appealed for help from the government in Baghdad several times and claims it has little funding to combat the crisis.
Health Minister Jaafar Allawi requested $5 million (Dh18.3m) in emergency funds from the government after Iraq recorded its first case, but received no answer.
Mr Allawi had to turn to a Shiite cleric for assistance.
“There is no money and we are in a difficult situation,” Mr Allawi told the cleric in a video shared widely online.
More than 4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Iraq.
Many people, especially the most vulnerable, are unable to independently meet their basic needs such as food and shelter, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
"We fear the worst for people in prisons and displacement camps," Jessica Moussan of the ICRC told The National.
"Physical distancing is a privilege that is simply not available to people in these places.
“People who have been displaced are often already vulnerable to health complications, while detention facilities that are overcrowded pose an extra challenge in preventing or containing infectious diseases."
The development coincides with the arrival in Baghdad this week of Brig Gen Esmail Qaani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.
It is Brig Qaani’s first public visit since he succeeded Qassem Suleimani, who was assassinated in early January.
He landed at Baghdad’s international airport as the outbreak of the virus forced authorities to impose a curfew and halt all incoming and outgoing flights.
Suleimani visited Iraq regularly during its political and social crises, and had strong relations with the country’s religious and political factions.
He was known for his ability to make even Iraqi rivals hash out their differences and forge unity during times of political paralysis.
Prime minister-designate Adnan Al Zurfi has several weeks to form a new cabinet and present it to Parliament for approval.
But Mr Al Zurfi he is having difficulty swaying powerful Shiite political parties to vote in his favour.
PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
The years Ramadan fell in May
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Health Valley
Founded in 2002 and set up as a foundation in 2006, Health Valley has been an innovation in healthcare for more than 10 years in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
It serves as a place where companies, businesses, universities, healthcare providers and government agencies can collaborate, offering a platform where they can connect and work together on healthcare innovation.
Its partners work on technological innovation, new forms of diagnostics and other methods to make a difference in healthcare.
Its agency consists of eight people, four innovation managers and office managers, two communication advisers and one director. It gives innovation support to businesses and other parties in its network like a broker, connecting people with the right organisation to help them further
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Honeymoonish
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Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
The five pillars of Islam
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPyppl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEstablished%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAntti%20Arponen%20and%20Phil%20Reynolds%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20financial%20services%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2418.5%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20150%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20series%20A%2C%20closed%20in%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20venture%20capital%20companies%2C%20international%20funds%2C%20family%20offices%2C%20high-net-worth%20individuals%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
