Kurdistan Region records first five confirmed omicron cases: Health ministry 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region has recorded five cases of the new coronavirus variant, known as omicron, the health ministry announced on Thursday.

The infected individuals are all members of the same family in Duhok province, Health Minister Saman Barzinji announced in a press conference in Erbil.

Some of them have recently come back from abroad. The newly infected individuals were also unvaccinated against the coronavirus, he said.  

They are isolated, and their health situation is "stable", he added.

The autonomous region's health authorities had previously announced some suspected cases of the newly mutated variant.

In a series of updated regulations on the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurdistan Region's border authorities are now required to conduct rapid COVID-19 tests on entrants, including those who have vaccination cards.

Those with a negative test taken within 48 hours of entry will be exempt. 

As of February, it added, Kurdistan Region residents will be required to either show a document proving they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 test to be allowed entry into government offices and non-essential businesses.