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

All of the new patients came in contact with a single person who had COVID-19 at a funeral ceremony.

Mustafa Shilani 2020/04/05 12:25

kurdistan Kurdistan coronavirus Erbil KRG

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Sunday, the Kurdistan Region's Health Ministry announced 18 new cases of the new coronavirus disease just in the city of Erbil.

The ministry said in a statement that the new cases include eight men, six women, and four children, all of whom were in contact with an infected individual at a recent funeral gathering in Erbil city's Karizan neighborhood.

The statement explained that all the newly infected are residents of different areas in Erbil city, adding that the total number of people who caught the disease by attending the funeral has now reached 32.

Health Minister Saman Barznji said during a press conference on Sunday that they "have not ruled out the option of putting the whole neighborhood under quarantine." He noted that health teams are currently disinfecting the area.

The Erbil Health Directorate issued its own statement on Sunday, calling on the people who attended the funeral ceremony to immediately seek medical attention so that they can be tested for the disease.

Adding to the number of people who have recovered from the disease, the Sulaimani Health Directorate said on Sunday that 11 coronavirus patients had fully healed and returned to their home over the past 24 hours.

This comes a day after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced the autonomous region's third fatality due to the coronavirus.

According to the Kurdistan Region's Health Ministry, there has been a total of 232 confirmed coronavirus cases in the region so far, including three deaths and 85 patients who have recovered.

Editing by Kosar Nawzad