Iraq confirms first fatality from coronavirus

Iraq has suffered its first fatality from Covid-19, citing Kurdish news agency Rudaw, reports BBC.

A 70-year-old cleric, whose health was described as “unstable”, died just hours after it was first announced he had contracted the disease.

Iraq currently has 32 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Kurdish and Iraqi authorities have closed their borders with neighbouring Iran. 

According to BBC, the number of cases in Iran rose by more than 50% for the second consecutive day on Tuesday to 2,336 – although the real figure is believed to be far higher.

The outbreak of Covid-19 in the country has killed at least 77 people in less than two weeks.