Kurdistan mosques to remain closed, as fate of curfew unclear
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The regionwide curfew the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) first imposed in mid-March was slated to end on Friday night. Despite new infections confirmed by health authorities, authorities have not announced another extension but said on Thursday that mosques would remain closed amid public calls for the reopening of places of worship.
“After discussing this topic among the head of the coronavirus committee, ministers of health, interior, and endowment and religious affairs, and provincial governors, it was not deemed right for mosque doors to be reopened,” read a statement from the KRG combatting coronavirus committee.
The body outlined its reasons for maintaining the ban, citing a recent uptick in the number of new coronavirus disease cases, raising the risk large gatherings pose in spreading the virus faster and further.
The Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Pshtewan Sadiq, has previously stated that places of worship would remain closed until the “threat of the virus has passed.”
When the last curfew extension—which relaxed the measure—was announced on April 23, senior officials stressed that the virus remains a serious danger and warned that new outbreaks were still a possibility should the public fail to take necessary precautions to limit transmission.
Read More: Kurdistan extends coronavirus curfew; Minister says it will be lifted gradually
Now, as health authorities continue to test suspected cases, they are confirming new infections. On Thursday alone, the regional Health Ministry reported it had recorded 14 new cases, raising the total to 380. Out of those, there are 48 active cases left, while five people have passed away due to coronavirus-related complications.
Read More: Kurdistan Region reports 14 new coronavirus cases
The disease was first reported by Chinese authorities in late 2019 and has since spread in over 180 countries worldwide. To date, it has infected over 3.25 million people and killed more than 233,000, according to government-reported 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 John J. Catherine
(A previous version of this report incorrectly stated that the health ministry had reported six deaths on April 30, 2020. This has been since corrected to reflect the actual number, which is five.)