Erbil pharmacies shut down for preying on coronavirus fears

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Eighteen pharmacies in the Kurdish capital of Erbil were closed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Saturday after they raised the price of medical masks. 

Demand for the masks is on the rise as coronavirus spreads in neighboring Iran. 

Erbil’s mayor accompanied a committee from the KRG’s Health Ministry on visits to pharmacies in Erbil which have cynically taken advantage of the increased demand for medical masks by raising the price. 

Rudaw reporter Mahdi Farij went to several pharmacies in downtown Erbil, where he found masks that typically cost about 1,000 Iraqi dinar (less than one dollar) on sale for up to 16,000 dinar (over 13 dollars).

Mayor Nabaz Abdul-Hamid revealed, “We have closed 18 pharmacies in Erbil for selling medical masks with high prices, [taking] advantage [of] people’s high demand on the masks to prevent coronavirus.”

Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the KRG, has assigned a budget to help prevent an outbreak in Kurdistan  Region.

Additionally, the Supreme Committee for Coronavirus Response in Kurdistan Region was formed last week. The committee is composed of the mayor of Erbil and representatives from the Ministries of Health and the Interior. 

“There are no coronavirus cases in Iraq, including Kurdistan region,” Mayor Abdul-Hamid said. “If the virus enters Kurdistan region, we are ready to face the virus and fight back.”

The coronavirus outbreak began in the Chinese city of Wuhan on December 31, killing more than 2,100 people and infecting over 74,000 worldwide.

There have been 43 confirmed cases of the virus and eight deaths in Iran, according to Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour. Iran has experienced more coronavirus deaths than any other country outside of China.  

Iraqis currently in Iran must undergo a 14-day monitoring period after crossing the border before they are allowed to return home, and will also be checked at their homes by medical teams, according to an order issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Health and the Environment.

Furthermore, Iraqis are not permitted to visit Iran unless they are part of a diplomatic delegation, and the federal government has suspended all Iraqi Airlines flights serving Najaf and Baghdad routes to Iran until further notice.

“We confirm that there are no coronavirus cases reported in Kurdistan region, and we are [quarantining] people coming from Iran to make sure they are not infected with the virus,” said Dr. Azad Hadi, head of inspections at the KRG Ministry of Health. “The venue [in Erbil] in which new arrivals from Iran are staying in right now is temporary and we will change their accommodation tomorrow.”

Rudaw was informed on Friday that more than 75 people arrived in Kurdistan region from Iran, and they were brought to a specific venue in Erbil to undergo a 14-day monitoring period in order to make sure they are not infected with the virus. 

However, the venue is not appropriate for a proper quarantine, as children, elderly people and pregnant women are all grouped together.

The KRG has also quarantined hundreds of people newly returned from Iran in two hotels in Soran, and has barred visitors from the local hospital.

Mayor Abdul-Hamid stated to Rudaw that any individuals who aim to spread “baseless propaganda” regarding the presence of coronavirus cases in Kurdistan region will be detained and will face justice.

This story was updated at 3:37 PM (GMT+3).