Kurdistan PM reviews anti-coronavirus measures, economic implications with ministers
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday chaired a virtual meeting with the government's high committee to combat the coronavirus to discuss the latest developments and reviewing the pandemic's economic implications for the world and the region.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday chaired a virtual meeting with the regional government's high committee to combat the coronavirus to discuss the latest developments and review the pandemic's expected economic ramifications, both domestically and internationally.
"Prime Minister Barzani thanked all government agencies, together with the health and law enforcement authorities, for their tireless work and dedication in keeping people safe," read a statement from the Barzani's office.
"He stressed the importance of a continued supply of essentials to meet people's daily needs and ensure food security."
The meeting also discussed the work of the Food and Medicine Committee that is tasked with ensuring a safe and steady supply of both, a reduction in public expenses, and the importance of continued cooperation with the federal government of Iraq.
The officials also underlined the drop in international oil prices, which has a massive impact on the budgets of countries like Iraq that rely almost completely on oil revenue.
The Kurdistan Region Health Ministry on Sunday announced three new cases of the coronavirus, adding up to six in total over the past 24 hours.
Read More: Kurdistan records six new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours
The ministry said in a statement that its laboratories had conducted 544 examinations over the past 24 hours, 369 of which were in Erbil province, 92 in Sulaimani, and 56 in Duhok.
The ministry confirmed that six individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus, three in Erbil, one in Sulaimani, and two in Duhok. The total number of people infected with the virus in the Kurdistan Region has risen to 128, including two deaths and 55 cases of full recovery.
The total number of infections in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, is nearing 550.
Over 680,000 people are confirmed to have contracted the virus in over 180 countries worldwide, according to data compiled by WHO. Around 32,000 have died, as per official numbers reported by governments around the world, though the rate could be dramatically higher in some instances due to underreporting.
According to the latest update by the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Health, there are over 128 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including two deaths and 55 who have fully recovered.
Editing by Kosar Nawzad and John J. Catherine