SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq has officially entered a third wave of the new coronavirus, a spokesman for the health ministry said on Saturday.
“The new wave is more severe and dangerous than the first and second waves,” Saif al-Badr said in a statement, according to state news agency (INA).
Badr called on people to adhere to health guidelines including wearing masks and social distance to curb spread of the virus.
He said the health ministry was working on a plan to increase vaccination in the country.
Iraq recorded 5,325 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total of infections to 1,316,418. The death toll had reached more than 17,000.
As of Friday, Iraq had administered 842,964 doses of coronavirus vaccines across the country, according to the health ministry’s figures.
