ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment on Tuesday warned of a possible calamity in the country if mass religious gatherings and convoy visits continue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We noticed that sufficient and decisive measures are not taken to prevent mass gatherings that may cause a health catastrophe, especially religious visits and convoy meetings, even though specific instructions issued by the Iraqi Crisis Cell advise against it,” a statement from the ministry read.

The statement also reminded the country’s operations commanders, security forces, and the judiciary of their “national responsibility” to take extreme measures to implement all decisions from the Iraqi Crisis Cell to preserve the lives of citizens due to the seriousness of the situation.

The health ministry reiterated that all citizens must fully comply with its instructions to protect their lives and those of their families and community members.

The Federal Government of Iraq’s Ministry of Health and Environment said on Tuesday that its laboratories had conducted 96 new tests and showed positive results for 22 patients, recording the highest new daily rate of infections so far: 17 in Baghdad, three in Karbala, and one in Basra. It also announced a new death in Wasit province.

According to a ministry statement, the new cases of coronavirus have brought the total number in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, to 161 confirmed cases, among them 11 deaths and 41 recoveries.