Third batch of medical aid from China arrives in Iraq

The third batch of medical aid from China arrived on Monday in Baghdad, about 10 days after the second batch of aid provided by China reached the war-torn country. 

The latest batch of Chinese aid includes medical protective equipment such as protective clothing, masks and gloves.

Jasim al-Falahi, Iraq's deputy health minister, has said that the first batch of the Chinese aid played a great role in increasing Iraq's capacity in the investigation and diagnosis of the COVID-19 cases, and the second batch had further helped Iraq increase the capacity in diagnosing. 

The Iraqi Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 26 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections to 1,539 in the country.

The 26 new cases during the past 24 hours were five in the capital Baghdad, 17 in Basra, and one each in Najaf, Wasit, Babil and Dhi Qar, the ministry said in a statement.

So far, 82 patients have died from the disease while 1,009 others recovered, said the statement.