Iraq warns of second Covid wave as cases surge

Health officials say Iraq is slated to receive up to vaccine 4.5 million doses

A member of the Iraqi civil defence disinfects a room at a local TV station in the central Baghdad.  AFP 

Iraq braced for a possible second wave as daily coronavirus cases exceeded 1,000 for the first time in weeks.

Strict measures could be imposed nationwide, officials said.

New infections peaked in late September when the country registered 5,025 cases in a single day.

The highest number of daily deaths was recorded in late June at 122, according to the Health Ministry figures.

Iraq's infection rate had dropped to around 600 cases a day in early January, and less than 10 deaths per day.

But figures started to rise again over the past two weeks.

On Tuesday, the health ministry reported 1,135 new cases with 11 deaths. That brought the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak to 621,755 and deaths to 13,068.

The latest increase could be a prelude “for a second wave for the pandemic that could be even worse,” the ministry said.

Many citizens were not complying with social distancing policies, the ministry said.

It said the situation could force authorities to adopt “more strict decisions and measures such as partial lockdown and close down public places that attract gatherings.”

The ministry also called on Iraqis to adhere to the recommendations and practice social distancing, wear masks, frequently wash your hands and to immediately stop social events, hugging, hand shaking and kissing.

Unlike many countries in the region, Iraq has yet to receive any vaccine.

On Monday, the country’s Health Minister Hassan Al Tamimi said between 2.5 million-3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines would be received through the Covax scheme by the end of this month.

Shortly after the pandemic outbreak early last year, Iraq joined the Covax scheme to secure enough doses for 20 per cent of its population of about 40 million people.

Mr Al Tamimi said more doses would follow. There was no mention of the vaccine manufacturer.

Members of the security forces, health workers, elderly people, those with chronic diseases and employees of media outlets would be given priority, he added.

Iraq ordered 1.5 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December.