Social media activists denounce "the officials feast"

Shafaq News / Iraqi social media activists deplored the non-compliance of local officials in Basra Governorate with the restrictions imposed to curb COVID-19 pandemic while holding citizens responsible for the spread of the virus. 

A video clip showing prominent officials in the local government in Basra Governorate, including the governor and head of the Coronavirus crisis cell, Asaad Al-Eidani, and the director of health in the governorate, Abbas Al-Tamimi; along with sheiks and dignitaries of tribes chatting in a crowded office. Another footage emerged later showing them gathered on a feast.

Iraqi officials have long blamed the public for the outbreak of COVID-19 as a result of non-adherence to the restrictions imposed to prevent the outbreak of the pandemic.

The footage went viral on social media and rose dissatisfaction and ridicule. An activist on Facebook said that the government's measures aimed at preventing the virus apply to poor people while it does not to officials. Another sarcastically said, "It seems (they) have found a cure for Corona."

It is noteworthy that the Iraqi Ministry of Health has repeatedly warned against holding public gatherings, such as banquets, funeral councils and weddings.

Earlier Monday, the Ministry of Health announced 72 deaths, 3484 new cases, and 2015 recoveries from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours. Those numbers brought the total counts of COVID-19 cases in Iraq to 153,599 and 5464 deaths, while registering 107,790 recoveries.

The infection rates surged in Iraq over the past three months, as the authorities relaxed the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the virus, on top of which is the comprehensive curfew, as the country records about 3 thousand daily new cases.

The current situation rose fear around the capacity of the health system to handle this crisis, given the limited infrastructure of this sector due to decades of wars, corruption and instability.