BAGHDAD

Iraq confirmed its fourth death from the novel coronavirus late Friday.

Officials in Karbala said a woman, 50, died in the central city because of the virus, known as COVID-19.

The country's first fatality occurred Wednesday in Sulaymaniyah province, and two other deaths were registered in Baghdad.

Authorities confirmed 47 cases of the virus throughout the country.

The Health Ministry said the first case of coronavirus was Erbil and it came from a 33-year-old woman.

The Iraq will close five border gates with Iran for passengers, effective Sunday.

Based on the decision, the suspension of bilateral trade with Iran through the border gates was extended to April 15.

The move does not apply to border crossings with Iran in the administration in northern Iraq.

Last week, Baghdad shut schools and universities for 10 days and banned travel to virus-hit states as part of its fight against the disease.

The new coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, last December and has now spread to more than 80 countries.

The global death toll is nearing 3,500, with around 100,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO, which had declared the outbreak an international health emergency, recently updated the global risk level to “very high.”

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara