KRG to reimpose anti-coronavirus measures in Duhok to slow surge in cases

04-10-2020
Zhelwan Z. Wali
Zhelwan Z. Wali @ZhelwanWali
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health ministry has said it will reimpose measures designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Duhok, as the province struggles to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities.

The health ministry's spokesperson said on Sunday that measures will for now be limited to Duhok, the Kurdistan Region province currently worst hit by the outbreak.

"There is not yet a plan to impose a nationwide curfew, but we will be tightening health regulations in Duhok province as infections and deaths in the province have gone up," spokesperson Dr. Aso Hawezi told Rudaw.

"Tightening the health regulations in this province is at the request of the general health directorate of Duhok province," Hawezi said. "In Duhok, thirty new cases need to be put on ventilators every day."

"If need be, we will impose the very same ruling across the Kurdistan Region," he added.

Speaking to Rudaw on Sunday night, the head of Duhok's General Health Directorate blamed the increase in cases on a "lack of commitment by locals."

"Many people who are contagious are not staying at home, and they are mingling with people in Duhok's crowded public places," Nizar Ismat said.

"We have to get people in public places to follow health guidelines, or things will become much worse," he added.

Previous health protection regulations imposed in the Kurdistan Region have included curfew, and bans on gathering social events such as parties and funerals. Short bans on all non-essential traffic in March were relaxed to allow for movement within provinces. Travel between provinces was finally permitted months later.

For months, Duhok was one of the Kurdistan Region provinces least impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, recording far less cases than Erbil and Sulaimani. However, the province has seen case numbers spike in recent weeks.

Duhok province currently has the highest number of active coronavirus cases, according to KRG health ministry figures last updated on Sunday evening.

Coronavirus cases recorded since the pandemic reached the Kurdistan Region in March exceeded 50,000 on Sunday evening, and include over 1,800 deaths.

Almost all movement restrictions in the Kurdistan Region have been lifted, though larger social events including wakes continue to be banned by the KRG.
 

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