COVID-19: Kurdistan Region again records over 500 cases, more than 15 fatalities

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health announced over 500 new coronavirus cases on Monday along with more than 15 new deaths as the region continues to witness spiking figures of daily infections.

The health ministry said in a statement that it had conducted 3,035 tests in the past 24 hours, 508 of which returned positive. Of the new cases, 278 were in Erbil province, 97 in Sulaimani, 32 in Duhok, and 18 in Halabja.

According to official data, the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic has reached 17,547, which includes 657 deaths and 10,309 recoveries.

Surges in COVID-19 cases

The Kurdistan Region recently witnessed a new surge in coronavirus cases throughout its four provinces.

On Sunday, health authorities in Duhok’s Akre district said that medical facilities in the area had reached capacity. This comes as the number of active cases across the region continues to outpace recoveries, and two days after a new record was set.

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According to Akre health directorate spokesperson Sabah Zaher, the numbers of infections in the district has reached 167.

Zaher added that they have had to treat 30 patients while quarantined in their homes.

As the number of cases continues to increase, health officials and professionals have repeatedly called on citizens to adhere to guidelines that limit the spread of the virus.

Shakhawan Khailani, the head of Emirates Hospital in Erbil, warned on Sunday that the infection rate “is going up,” and stressed that the public must follow regulations and protect themselves with masks and gloves at all times.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany