Iraq evacuates 324 stranded nationals from Cairo: Foreign Ministry

CAIRO – 13 April 2020: The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Monday said two exceptional flights took off from the Egyptian capital Cairo to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, evacuating 324 Iraqi nationals over coronavirus (COVID-19).

Iraq has recorded a total of 1,352 coronavirus cases, including 640 recovered cases and 76 deaths, according to the latest figures announced by the Iraqi Ministry of Health, while Egypt has recorded 2,065 cases including 159 deaths until Sunday evening.

The Egyptian flag carrier EgyptAir has operated many flights, including from the United States, Kuwait, Britain, Oman and France to bring back Egyptians stranded in these countries, especially those who entered the country via visitor visas.

Last week, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli gave a speech to announce measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, including extending curfew and the flight ban in the northeastern African country until April 23rd.

Among the decisions intensifying sterilization procedures for all state facilities and deducting salaries of the prime minister and state ministers by 20 percent for three months to support precarious employment.

“Our projections for this week were 120-150 cases daily. There will be increases in the number of infections in the coming two or three weeks…but the more important thing is that the rise is slight and gradual,” Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli noted.