After months of protests riddled with violence and US sanctions against Iran, Iraqis now face the coronavirus.
In the big cities of the country, the city centers are won over by psychosis. The streets are now deserted. Schools, universities, cinemas and cafes will be closed until March 7. Only pharmacies have intensified their activity, with sales of disinfectant masks and gels.
Iraq has closed its border with Iran and prohibited the entry of Iranians into its territory. Faced with the virus, the authorities have only one creed: to encourage as many citizens as possible, to scrupulously apply the preventive measures announced by the government. "Contain the disease and limit the spread of this virus depends on the level of awareness of citizens to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, says Dr. Jaseb Latif, director of health in Baghdad. Our measures are sufficient to limit its spread, we have very few cases and the situation can remain as it is now. In Iraq, the epidemic will not spread if everyone follows our instructions. "
"The most important thing is personal hygiene, sterilization and hand hygiene, said Ali, an Iraqi citizen. The second is to minimize travel to crowded places such as shopping malls. The hospitals are very active and they also help us to communicate on preventive measures. "
According to WHO, the country has less than 10 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants.
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