COVID-19: Kurdistan Region records 133 new COVID-19 cases, five deaths in a single day
The Kurdistan Region health ministry on Sunday announced a record-breaking 133 new coronavirus cases and five deaths due to complications related to the disease in a single day.
Erbil (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region health ministry on Sunday announced a record-breaking 133 new coronavirus cases and five deaths due to complications related to the disease in a single day.
A ministry statement said that out of 1774 coronavirus tests conducted across the region, 133 returned positive. There were 692 tests carried out in Erbil province, 658 in Sulaimani, 400 in Duhok, and 24 in the Garmiyan and Raparin administrative units, the statement said.
Out of the new infections in the Kurdistan Region, Sulaimani province recorded the highest with 91 cases, which includes figures from Raparin and Garmiyan. Erbil province reported 39 cases as Duhok province recorded only three, according to the government data.
The ministry also reported five new coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, all of which were in Sulaimani province. Since the disease first arrived in the region, health workers have conducted 87,590 COVID-19 tests across its four provinces.
As of Sunday, 1,222 cases have been confirmed, including 24 deaths, and 448 recoveries. According to Sunday's statement, there are now 750 active cases.
On Sunday, the interior ministry issued a new decree extending the ban on movement between the Kurdistan Region's provinces and administrative units to June 15 in a bid to curb the further spread of COVID-19. In cases of emergency, the government allows citizens to request from the interior ministry a travel permit they can file online.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed reiterated warnings that the situation might worsen. "If we do not comply with health regulations, we will reach a dangerous phase, and new infections and deaths will be very high."
Ahmed added that provincial governments would be given the authority to implement certain relaxations of current health regulations amid a new temporary region-wide curfew following a recent sustained spike in new coronavirus cases.
Erbil's Head of Municipality Abdul Waheed Hamid, during an interview with Kurdistan 24, stated that "As of today, they [municipality] have closed down around 200 businesses and shops due to non-adherence to health measures."
Editing by Khrush Najari