Iraq's health warns strongly of a fourth wave of Covid

On Sunday, the Iraqi Ministry of Health warned against laxity in measures to confront the Covid pandemic.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Saif al-Badr, said in a press statement that "the fall in Covid cases does not mean that the danger has passed. We strongly warn of the occurrence of a fourth epidemic wave."

He also pointed out that "information about the Omicron mutant is still insufficient, but we stress the need to constantly adhere to preventive measures and receive vaccines that provide protection for more than one strain of this pandemic."

Covid cases have been falling in Iraq recently but health authorities continue to warn against a fourth wave due to disobedience by health measures.

Badr also pointed out that the demand for the vaccine is below the acceptable level.

"We are close to vaccinating 9 million people, including five million with two doses, and despite achieving the interim goal, the turnout is not within the ambition of the Ministry of Health, which wants to double the number of daily vaccinators which is currently100,000 per day."

Anyone above 12 years of age is allowed to get vaccinated in Iraq and the total number of vaccinators has reached 8,431,667 so far.

Iraq has not officially announced the existence of the new Omicron variant in the country but last Wednesday Kurdistan Region health authorities announced the existence of suspected cases of the new variant.

Early evidence of global researches suggests that for most people, at least for those who are up to date on their Covid vaccines, omicron appears to result in mild illness.



PUKmedia