Iraq reported its first case in late February. By mid March, health authorities had banned major public events, suspended schools, and closed malls and gathering places. Iraq has a vulnerable health system, weakened by years of war and internal crises. On the ground, experts from WHO provided guidance on control measures and enough test kits and personal protective equipment for a rapid response to severe cases at the national and regional level. Should a patient need more sophisticated medical treatment, they can soon be taken to one of the three negative-pressure rooms WHO is building in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra.
