Erbil municipality workers undertook a widespread disinfection campaign around the city's historic bazaar on Saturday in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus and reassure city residents.

The campaign followed the city's first confirmed case of the virus on Friday, a 33-year-old pregnant woman who health authorities have described as otherwise being in good health.

A second case - a 49-year-old woman, who recently visited Iran for treatment of an unrelated illness - was confirmed on Saturday night, bringing the Kurdistan Region case total to 10. 

Erbil governor Firsat Sofi urged the province's residents to take precautionary measures, including avoidance of large group gatherings and travel between cities. Extra preventative measures are to be taken at Erbil city limit checkpoints, Sofi added.

Kurdistan Region authorities ordered the closure of schools, banned large public gatherings, and cut government working hours at the end of last month in an attempt to stem the spread of the illness. Erbil city authorities on Saturday ordered the closure of all bars, beauty salons and public play areas from March 8 until April 1.

Disinfection was expanded later on Saturday to include public spaces beyond the citadel and bazaar.

Photos by Bilind T. Abdullah / Rudaw