Iraq cancels Friday prayers in Karbala over coronavirus

By Ibrahim Saleh
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA) - Friday prayers have been cancelled in Karbala, the holy city of Iraq, in a move to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Local officials made the announcement on Thursday citing the "current health situation in Iraq".
Karbala is the holiest city for Shia Muslims where representatives of cleric Ali al-Sistani deliver speeches.
Iraqi authorities have reported three deaths and confirmed 35 cases of the virus, officially known as COVID-19.

The coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, last December and has now spread to more than 80 countries.

The global death toll is nearing 3,500, with more than 95,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO, which had declared the outbreak an international health emergency, recently updated the global risk level to “very high”.
* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara