Iraq's health ministry said Wednesday that more than 10,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the country whose threadbare health sector has been battered by the virus.

Iraq has registered more than 413,000 cases, and the total death toll now stands at 10,021, the ministry said.

Neighbouring Iran has recorded around three times as many fatalities, the highest toll in the region.

Baghdad recently lifted restrictions and reopened mosques, shops and cafes but has kept its borders closed to non-residents.

It has also urged citizens not to attend large gatherings.

However over 14.5 million people flocked to Arabeen, the religious commemoration for Shiite Muslims which ended last week, according to religious authorities, with few wearing masks or observing social distancing.

Iraq's health system, worn down by years of war, insurgency and under-investment, has crumbled under the strain of rising infections, and medical staff have complained of a lack of personal protective equipment.

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Scientists warn of human-to-wildlife COVID-19 transmission risk
Washington DC (UPI) Oct 09, 2020
The risk of human-to-wildlife COVID-19 transmission is real and significant, scientists warn in a paper published this week in the journal Mammal Review. Although the exact origins of the COVID-19 pandemic aren't clear, most researchers estimate the virus made the jump from bats to pangolins before infecting humans. Now, scientists worry the virus could make the jump from humans back into wild animal populations. If COVID-19 managed to infect and spread among wild animals, it could pose ... read more