COVID-19: Kurdistan Region records 540 new cases; WHO praises Duhok in fighting virus
"I believe [Duhok], so far, is an example that we should look at in the fight against COVID-19."
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Health on Sunday reported 540 new coronavirus cases, as the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iraq praised Duhok province's success in the fight against the disease.
The ministry said in a statement that it had conducted 5,071 tests across the region in 24 hours, of which 540 came back positive: 138 in Erbil province, 115 in Sulaimani, and 241 in Duhok.
The statement also mentioned there had been 17 fatalities due to the disease in the same period: 14 in Erbil, one in Sulaimani, two in Dohuk.
The statement pointed out that the total number of infections across the Kurdistan Region since the outbreak is 28,161. Of the total, 17,679 patients have recovered, 1,049 have died, while 9,433 are still receiving treatment.
Duhok Low Fatality
The WHO in Iraq on Sunday praised the leading role of the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province in the fight against the disease, as it has the lowest rate of deaths compared to the rest of Iraq.
"Fatality rate in Duhok province is %1, which is an excellent rate while in other Iraqi provinces death rate is %3," said Adham Ismaeil, the WHO representative in Iraq. "I believe the province [Duhok], so far, is an example that we should look at in the fight against COVID-19."
Ismail's remarks come as his organization delivered $270,000 worth of medical aid to Duhok to help better fight the virus.
"Duhok can still control the pandemic," Ismail said, noting that infections would increase once the provincial government lifts all restrictions.
The death rate in the province indicates that a "good health service" is provided to COVID-19 patients.
Duhok province has recorded close to 3,900 of the Kurdistan Region's coronavirus cases. Only 46 patients have died due to the disease there.
Editing by Khrush Najari