COVID-19: KRG records 256 new infections and 133 recoveries in a day

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Health Ministry on Sunday announced 256 new coronavirus infections and 10 deaths over the past 24 hours.

A ministry statement mentioned that health workers had conducted 2,178 tests in the same period, of which 256 came back positive, 124 in Erbil province, 58 in Sulaimani, 34 in Garmyan administration, 13 in Rapareen administration, and 12 in Halabja province.

It also said 133 patients had recovered in a single day, while ten others had passed away.

According to official data, 10,851 individuals have caught the coronavirus since the outbreak of the disease in the autonomous region. Out of the total, 5,938 have recovered, and 412 died.

Earlier on Sunday, the regional health ministry received a shipment of coronavirus aid provided by a Turkish company.

"We are in need of medical equipment to provide the necessary protection to health personnel and doctors, of whom, unfortunately, several have been infected with, and some have died due to COVID-19," said Saman Barznji, the Kurdistan Region’s Health Minister.

The statement came during a joint press conference with the Turkish Consul General in Erbil, Hakan Karacay, on Sunday.

The minister also expressed his hope that the pharmaceutical companies in the private sector would support the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

From his end, Karacay stated that the Turkish company "Maskomol" supplied the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with shipments of medical aid, stressing that Turkey has good ties with both Baghdad and Erbil and that it will continue to provide them with assistance.

Editing by Khrush Najari