COVID-19: 14 new cases in Kurdistan Region as number rises to 190 overall

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health on Thursday announced two new cases of coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, in the Erbil governorate.

The ministry said in a statement that it had recorded two new infections in Erbil city. One of them is a 30-year-old woman and the other is a 25-year-old man. Both were previously in contact with infected individuals.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the health ministry said it had recorded 12 new coronavirus cases in the governorates of Sulaimani and Halabja.

The ministry noted that seven of them are from Sulaimani, six of whom were in contact with infected individuals. One had previously visited Iran. The other five are from Halabja and were also in contact with a previously infected individual.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Saman Barznji, the Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Health, announced the opening of the first specialized center to test and diagnose patients for the coronavirus in Erbil’s Soran district. Barznji said it is the first area in the region and Iraq to establish a laboratory to test and detect for COVID-19.

The health minister explained that the center aims to reduce pressure on cities and citizens amid ongoing curfews across the region.

“Soran district is ready to receive suspected cases and diagnose the virus, and a quarantine section has been prepared within the district to treat infected cases,” Barznji added.

According to the Health Ministry, there are 190 coronavirus cases in the Kurdistan Region, with 100 in Sulaimani, 65 in Erbil, 13 in Halabja, and 12 in Dohuk, including two deaths, and 61 recoveries.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany