Iraq's coronavirus cases rise to 21

BAGHDAD, Iraq

Iraq reported two new coronavirus cases on Monday, taking the total infections from the disease to 21, according to the health ministry.

In a statement, ministry spokesman Saif Al-Badr said the two cases were detected in Baghdad after returning from Iran.

Last week, the Iraqi authorities shut schools and universities for a 10-day period and banned travel to virus-hit states as part of its fight against the disease.

The global death toll from coronavirus has crossed 3,000, with more than 88,000 infected.

The World Health Organization, which already declared the outbreak an international health emergency, updated the global risk level to very high.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara