Seven of the new cases were detected in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and one in the city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, the ministry said in a brief statement.

So far, Iraq has reported 54 COVID-19 cases, with 26 in the capital Baghdad, seven in the province of Kirkuk, seven in Sulaymaniyah, five in Najaf, three in Wasit, two each in Diyala and Karbala, and one each in Babil and Maysan.

Also on Saturday, in another statement, the ministry said that two of the infected cases have recovered and left the hospital in Baghdad, bringing the total number of recovered patients to three, according to the ministry figures.

The Iraqi authorities have been taking a series of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after cases were confirmed in the country.