KRG Health Minister advises COVID-19 curfew extension with relaxed measures
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Health Minister Dr. Saman Barzinji announced on Thursday in a press conference that curfews should remain in place with relaxed measures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In early March, the KRG’s Interior Ministry announced a region-wide curfew to curb the coronavirus spread in the Kurdistan Region, affecting many low-income families and daily-wage workers across the region.
In response to a reporter’s question on the possibility of lifting the curfew, Barzinji said: “We have proposed to maintain the curfew with new guidelines and rearrangements.”
The minister’s remarks come as health authorities in Erbil previously suggested an extension to the curfew to further curb the virus in the province.
With regards to the details of the new measures, Barzinji told reporters they would be decided by the COVID-19 Operation Rooms and the Ministry of Interior.
Barzinji announced the decision during a press conference that was initially organized to address a batch of medical aid received from the World Health Organization (WHO) to support health care workers in the fight against coronavirus.
“The batch contains three ventilators, three respiration monitors, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as medical face masks, gowns, gloves, and goggles,” the health minister revealed.
Barzinji also noted that the medical aid his ministry received on Thursday is worth $500,000.
“Previously, the WHO held sessions for trainers on handling and confronting the coronavirus,” Barzinji told reporters. He also mentioned that the organization previously provided 1,000 test kits to the health ministry.
“The WHO’s assistance has been medical aid and training sessions,” Barzinji added.
According to the latest figures from the KRG’s health ministry, there have been 332 confirmed cases since the coronavirus outbreak in the Kurdistan Region, 204 recoveries, and four deaths.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany