Al-Hakim and Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed international and regional issues and the solidarity and strategic coordination of Turkey and Iraq in combating the coronavirus, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

According to Anadolu news agency the statement added the two ministers also evaluated security conditions in the region and discussed measures against the virus, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives across the globe.

After first appearing in Wuhan, China last December, the novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 177 countries and territories, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

More than 775,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 37,000 and more than 164,000 recoveries.

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