COVID-19: KRG calls on public to avoid travel abroad, for those in UK to be wary of new strain

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Minister of Health in the autonomous Kurdistan Region advised residents to avoid traveling abroad, for fear of infection with the mutated coronavirus strain.

Minister Saman Barzinji said in an interview with Kurdistan 24, "If it is not an absolute necessity, do not travel outside the country, or those who are abroad, especially in Britain, to stay away from traveling."

He explained that "because the new strain of coronavirus is spreading very quickly, let us protect the citizens and Kurdistan, and let us all continue with the preventive measures, and health regulations."

Britain, the European country so far most affected with the mutated strain, has enacted plans to quarantine some three-quarters of the country's population since mid-December. The recent holiday season, however, has appeared to exacerbate its spread, prompting the government to tighten lockdown measures.

On Wednesday, Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health announced 104 new infections and three deaths due to the virus in the past 24 hours.

According to officials, the total number of infections since the spread of the virus in March reached 103,975, including 3,406 deaths.

Editing by John J. Catherine