Kurdistan health teams use targeted virus testing as funeral outbreak spreads

he Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Health tested large numbers of people from 11 residential areas in Erbil in an attempt to stop a breakout of the coronavirus that appears to have been caused by mourners breaking the curfew now in place across the region to gather at two funerals in roughly the same area.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Health tested large numbers of people from 11 residential areas in Erbil in an attempt to stop a breakout of the coronavirus that appears to have been caused by mourners breaking the curfew now in place across the region to gather at two funerals in roughly the same area.

Health officials say the cases make up nearly all of the province's new infections.

“More than 300 samples have been taken today in the Karizan neighborhood, where the funeral gathering(s) took place,” said Sarhang Jalal, head of Medical Safety Unit of Erbil’s General Directorate of Health. 

Read More: KRG reports 18 new COVID-19 cases from single funeral ceremony in Erbil

“Our plan is to take samples from all those who have interacted with the individuals who attended the funeral ceremony to prevent the situation from getting out of hand,” he added.

Jalal also explained that, based on the number of affected people in each neighborhood, the ministry will decide whether to put entire areas under quarantine.

Almost all newly diagnosed infections in Erbil are thought to have originated from contact between friends and loved ones at the two ceremonies in Karizan. The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Minister of Interior announced on Monday stated that the organizers of both funerals will be held legally responsible for facilitating the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Dilovan Mohammed, head of Erbil Health Directorate told Kurdistan 24, “Along with the five new cases of coronavirus announced on Tuesday morning, there are 138 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Erbil city, 20 who made full recovery and sent home leaving 118 cases in the hospitals.”

“So far four hospitals are receiving and treating for coronavirus patients,” added Mohammed adding that “now the virus exists in the community,” urging the public to stay at their homes and follow the instructions and regulations of the Health Ministry.

According to the latest update by the KRG Ministry of Health, there are a total of 280 confirmed cases of the deadly virus in areas under its jurisdiction, including three deaths.

The Kurdistan Region’s high-level committee to combat coronavirus convened on Monday to consider the latest measures against the pandemic.

Read More: Kurdistan’s anti-coronavirus committee convenes to discuss latest measures, curfew

“The current travel ban guidelines will continue until the Ministry of Interior, local governorates or administrations issue a new statement explaining how people can obtain essentials necessary for their daily lives, including a timeline for markets and grocery shops to open,” according to a KRG statement. 

Officially referred to as COVID-19, the highly-contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus was first reported by Chinese authorities in late 2019.

As it continues to spread in over 180 countries worldwide, it has infected nearly 1.4 million people and killed almost 80,000, according to government-reported data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The actual figures could be dramatically higher due to insufficient testing capabilities or underreporting, particularly in countries that have weak health systems.

Editing by John J. Catherine