Iraq authorities continue to enforce virus lockdown

Iraqi authorities continued to enforce a curfew on Tuesday, as all areas of public gatherings remained closed in a bid to curb the outbreak of the new coronavirus. The streets of Baghdad were deserted amid the restrictions. Iraqi police set up checkpoints and soldiers were deployed in the capital to enforce the lockdown. Schools, universities, parks, malls and places of worship will also remain closed in Iraq. International travel in and out of the country as well as between provinces was still suspended. Baghdad's Kadhimiyah neighborhood looked empty of pilgrims and tourists. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslim pilgrims traditionally make a trek by foot to the twin-domed shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim shrine where the revered saint is buried. As of Monday, Iraq's total of reported COVID-19 cases stood at 13,481, including 370 deaths.