Kurdistan decides to ease lockdown after fourth day of no new COVID-19 cases

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Tuesday evening that four days in a row had passed with no new cases of the coronavirus were recorded in the region and that curfew restrictions would soon be eased.

In a statement, the regional Ministry of Health reported that, out of 8,347 individuals who were being tested for COVID-19, only 1,504 remain in quarantine in 32 locations across the region. In the province of Erbil, it said, there were 440 individuals still presenting with symptoms of the highly-contagious disease, 167 in Sulaimani, and 859 individuals in Duhok.

Earlier on Tuesday, Erbil Governor Firsat Sofy said in a joint press conference with Head of Erbil Health Directorate Dlovan Mohammed that current restrictions on movement in Erbil would be lifted in stages.

Sofy explained that people's interests and jobs are among the KRG's priorities and that, after April 24, further stages would be implemented.

He explained, “We will open local markets, allow taxis to operate, and grant access to public places, provided that health instructions and preventive measures are maintained. We will, however, keep places where there is overcrowding closed.”

“This is the ninth day (in Erbil) that we did not record any new cases of coronavirus, but this does not mean that the risk of this virus has passed,” Sofy warned. 

Mohammed, the Erbil health director, said, “It was decided that, starting tomorrow, private medical clinics and dental clinics will be opened, but health measures must be applied with them and each clinic will be allowed to open between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.”

He also mentioned that each clinic will not be permitted to examine more than 10 patients per day and that, at any one time, there should be no more than four patients inside each clinic. All those who enter the facilities must wear protective equipment and stay two meters apart from each other at all times.

According to the latest update from the Kurdistan Region’s Health Ministry, there are still 41 active cases out of 337 confirmed cases across the region, including four fatalities. 

Editing by John J. Catherine