Kurdistan Region announces 1721 recoveries from coronavirus and records low number of infections

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Monday, the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health announced that 1,721 persons infected with the coronavirus had recovered from the disease, while the number of new infections in the past 24 hours fell to 185, with five deaths.

The health ministry’s statement noted that the ministry had conducted 2,278 tests in the past 24 hours, with 185 positive cases: 93 from Erbil province; 32 from Sulaimani; 32 from the Garmyan administration; 15 from Duhok province; eight from the Rapareen administration; and five from Halabja province.

The statement also explained that "1,721 people had left medical care centers during the past 24 hours, after testing negative for the virus and showing signs of recovery: 1,577 from Sulaimani (during the past two weeks); 69 from Erbil; 28 from Garmyan; 21 from Rapareen; 16 from Duhok; and ten from Halabja."

According to the health ministry, the total number of people infected with the virus since its outbreak has reached 12,635 confirmed cases: 8,195 in Sulaimani; 3,587 in Erbil; 429 in Halabja; and 424 in Duhok. Those figures include 496 deaths.

Eid Al-Adha Restrictions: No Mixing, Solicitation or Crowds

Earlier on Monday, the High Committee to Confront the Coronavirus in Sulaimani Province issued directions to the administrative units and official departments within the province in which it detailed mandatory restrictions for the Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins July 30.

Those instructions, which are rather strict, prohibit “visits, mixing, soliciting, meeting and crowding, as well as visiting the deceased, condolence gatherings, and visiting the families of the deceased during the holiday.

It affirmed, “All celebrations and events that involve mixing, solicitation, and crowds are prohibited.”

The instructions also called on religious officials who are officiating in mosques during the Eid prayers to require citizens to adhere to the health regulations and protect themselves and others.

Another important decision of the Sulaimani High Commission was to prohibit tourists from coming to the province from other provinces in the Kurdistan Region, as well as from Iraq and Iran.

Sulaimani has been the epicenter of the coronavirus in the Kurdistan Region, because of its proximity to Iran, the original epicenter of the virus in the Middle East.

Editing by Laurie Mylroie