ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s ministry of health says it has confirmed five new cases of the coronavirus in Iraq, four in the capital Baghdad and one in Babil province.



There are now 13 known cases of the virus in Iraq but no deaths. There are no confirmed cases in the Kurdistan Region.



“They were under the supervision of the Ministry of Health staff and their samples were taken for laboratory tests,” the ministry said in a statement on Facebook.



“Later on, it was found that the results of their tests are positive and they are currently in the private rooms inside the Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment to follow up their health status.”



Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019.



The virus has since spread to more than 56 countries and territories and has infected at least 83,853 people, killing 2,873. Particular hotspots outside China include South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Italy.



Iraq’s first confirmed case of the virus was an Iranian student studying in a religious school in the holy Shiite city of Najaf.



Several others are infected in Kirkuk after recently visiting Iran, which currently has the highest death toll from the virus outside of China.



A woman tested positive for the virus in Baghdad on Friday.



Iraq has taken a number of measures to prevent further spread of the virus, including closing borders with Iran, banning the entry of Iranian nationals, and shutting down schools and universities.



The country is going through a sensitive time as anti-government protests continue, political parties have failed to agree on the upcoming cabinet positions and the caretaker government has limited financial ability to fight the virus.

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