BAGHDAD 

Iraq confirmed its third death from the novel coronavirus Wednesday.

In a statement, Health Ministry spokesman Saif Al-Badr said a 65-year-old individual in the capital Baghdad who tested positive for the virus died.

Earlier in the day, Al-Badr said a woman died from the virus in Baghdad, marking the second death.

The Health Ministry of the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq said a 63-year-old man in Sulaymaniyah province who tested positive for the virus died Wednesday.

Iraqi authorities have confirmed 32 cases of the virus, officially known as COVID-19.

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 global death toll from the novel coronavirus has surpassed 3,000 with more than 89,000 infected.

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

*Writing by Burak Dag