Kurdistan’s anti-coronavirus committee convenes to discuss latest measures, curfew
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s high-level committee to combat coronavirus convened on Monday to consider the latest measures against the pandemic, as well as the people’s response to the government’s instructions.
The meeting was held by videoconference and was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani. It discussed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) upcoming plans, and it thanked healthcare professionals, as well as the security forces, for their crucial work.
The committee recognized the public’s commitment to following government guidelines, and it reassured them that those guidelines are in place to save lives.
During the meeting, the KRG Minister of Health, Saman Barzinji, updated the attendees regarding the latest figures on coronavirus cases in the autonomous Kurdistan Region.
The committee issued a few decisions regarding measures to contain the spread of the pandemic, officially known as COVID-19.
They decided that the current 48-hour curfew will remain in place until midnight in order to reconsider the previous curfew order which bans travel throughout the Kurdistan Region until April 10.
“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 the statement released by the KRG.
They also agreed to determine a time for people across the autonomous region to pay tribute to healthcare workers and security forces who have been working tirelessly in the fight against coronavirus.
“Relevant departments in the KRG are asked to prepare their reports on future plans and guidelines to protect the public from this virus,” the statement added.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Interior decided to form a committee to investigate an incident involving a physician who was recently attacked in the province of Sulaimani.
The World Health Organization has praised the KRG’s timely response to the outbreak of the disease. Its representative in Baghdad affirmed last month, “All the measures taken in the Kurdistan Region are correct and are in line with the instructions of the World Health Organization, and the International Health Regulations.”
READ MORE: WHO praises Kurdistan Region’s anti-coronavirus efforts
According to the latest update by the KRG Ministry of Health, there are 277 confirmed cases of the deadly virus in areas under its jurisdiction, including three deaths and 88 patients who have recovered.
Worldwide, the coronavirus has infected over 1.3 million people and killed more than 72,000, according to 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 Laurie Mylroie