Six new COVID-19 cases in Erbil brings total in Kurdistan Region to 91

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Ministry of Health in the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday announced six new cases of the coronavirus in Erbil governorate.

The ministry confirmed the cases in a statement, noting that among the infected were “two children, one of whom was 1 year old and the other 9 years old, three women, and a man.”

This brings the number of people infected with the coronavirus in the region up to 91 individuals, including two deaths, and 22 full recoveries.

On Monday evening, Erbil governorate heightened measures to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Following a meeting headed by the governor of Erbil, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) High Committee to Combat Coronavirus decided to include walking outdoors as part of the curfew restrictions.

The statement from the committee pointed out that security forces would be dispatched in residential neighborhoods in Erbil city center, districts, and sub-districts to prevent citizens from roaming on foot and forcing them to stay indoors. “People will only be allowed to buy food and household necessities,” it read.

The statement also said shopping malls and bakeries must comply with health authorities’ instructions and working hours, otherwise, they will be subject to legal accountability.

The High Committee to Combat Coronavirus also called on citizens to stay in their homes and abide by the curfew to ensure their safety.

Over 382,000 people have been infected with the virus worldwide, and the numbers continue to rise in what appears to be an exponential increase, according to data compiled by WHO. More than 16,000 have died, as per official numbers reported by governments around the world, though the rate could be dramatically higher amid underreporting allegations.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany