First Coronavirus cases recorded in Iraq

Local health officials in the Iraqi holy Shi’ite city of Najaf have detected the first case of Coronavirus in the country, an Iranian theology student, Iraq health ministry said on Monday.

Iran Press/Middle East: The patient had entered Iraq before the government shut border crossings and banned the entry of any non-Iraqis coming from Iran, the ministry said in a statement.

“It has become clear to the ministry that the results of lab tests conducted on a theology student, an Iranian citizen, who had entered the country before ... the decision to stop travel have revealed he is ill with the coronavirus,” it said, Reuters reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that closing borders could even accelerate the spread of the Coronavirus if travelers enter countries unofficially.

The WHO instead recommends introducing screening at border crossings.

In fact, WHO has praised China for its commitment to fighting the Coronavirus, stressing that the only way to defeat it was for all countries to work together "in a spirit of co-operation". The WHO declared a global state of health emergency and urged the international community to help China develop vaccines and medical drugs to fight the Coronavirus. 101/216

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