PHOTOS: Kurdistan’s Erbil slowly reopens as active COVID-19 cases decline in the city

author_image Kosar Nawzad
Authorities in the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil governorate have eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions in place since mid-March, with citizens now allowed movement, reigniting the liveliness that has been a staple of the city’s downtown area.
A street vendor near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A street vendor near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A man bikes near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A man bikes near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Authorities in the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil governorate have eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions in place since mid-March, with citizens now allowed movement, reigniting the liveliness that has been a staple of the city’s downtown area.

The cautiously optimistic steps to ease the lockdown might be subject to re-evaluation depending on the results of more coronavirus testing of suspected or asymptomatic carriers. On Wednesday, the regional health ministry reported no new cases in the region.

A street vendor tows goods in the downtown area of Erbil near the city’s historic citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A street vendor tows goods in the downtown area of Erbil near the city’s historic citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Last week saw five days of no new reported infections from the ministry, with the total number of cases staying at 337. However, authorities recorded close to 30 cases from April 23 to 28, with the largest batch coming on Tuesday when 11 tests returned positive in Erbil province.

Read More: Kurdistan announces uptick of 11 new COVID-19 cases, first death in Erbil

Ten of the new infections detected were in Erbil’s Soran district. Active cases have been declining in the city, now at 26, including the latest infections in Soran.

Despite this, senior officials have stressed that the virus still poses a threat to public health, potentially resulting in new outbreaks should citizens fail to observe measures to limit transmission.

 The Erbil clock tower by the small park across the historic citadel in the center of the city on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
The Erbil clock tower by the small park across the historic citadel in the center of the city on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has stated that “key mitigation measures remain in place to prevent a rebound of the disease,” despite slowly reducing some of the restrictions at play. He also warned that the “coronavirus threat” remains.

Related Article: As infections fall, Kurdistan PM stresses COVID-19 restrictions still crucial

Earlier on Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iraq applauded the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, pointing to the stark contrast in the relatively small number of known infections in the autonomous region compared to the rest of Iraq.

“I want to congratulate the Kurdistan Region on their achievement in fighting the coronavirus,” the organization’s representative to Iraq, Dr. Adham Ismail, said during a press conference in Erbil. 

“The rate of COVID-19 infections and fatalities in the region is very low compared to other Iraqi governorates, but its threat is not over,” he added, stressing that the organization is ready to provide technical support to the region in limiting further outbreaks of the deadly virus.

A mosque next to the Erbil clock tower by the small park across the historic citadel in the center of the city on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A mosque next to the Erbil clock tower by the small park across the historic citadel in the center of the city on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Read More: WHO congratulates Kurdistan Region on coronavirus response

The highly contagious disease has infected over 3.2 million people worldwide and killed over 227,000, according to the latest government-reported data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The actual figures could be dramatically higher, though, due to insufficient testing capabilities or underreporting.

 A bookstore near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
A bookstore near the historic Erbil citadel on April 27, 2020. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)