Iraqi city shuts religious shrines over coronavirus

BAGHDAD

Authorities in the Iraqi city of Babel on Sunday ordered all religious shrines shut to visitors over fears of coronavirus.

In a statement, the media office of the city's governor Hassan al-Mandeel said the move was taken as a "precautionary measure to preserve the safety of citizens".

On Saturday, health authorities in the city confirmed the first case of coronavirus.

So far, 13 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Iraq.

Babel is home to dozens of Shia shrines.

The coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to more than 30 other countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain, and India.

The World Health Organization, which already declared the outbreak an international health emergency, raised the global coronavirus alert level from high to "very high'' on Friday.

* Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara