‘Dire consequences’: Iraq issues COVID warning after record cases

Health ministry issues warning saying spike in cases due to laxity among Iraqis who flout preventive measures.

Iraq’s health ministry has warned of “dire consequences” because citizens are not following coronavirus prevention measures as the country reported a new high in daily infection rates. Iraq recorded 8,331 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours on Wednesday, the highest figure since the ministry began keeping records at the onset of the pandemic last year. That figure was double the number of new infections from last month, and well above the previous peak of some 6,000 in March.