03-06-2020
23:52
Coronavirus treatment facilities in Kurdistan Region near capacity as cases surge
Photo: Rudaw TV
Coronavirus care facilities in the Kurdistan Region are having to reassess which patients they are able to provide hospital treatment to as cases numbers continue to grow, health officials told Rudaw on Sunday.
The surge in cases of the coronavirus in Sulaimani has left hospitals dedicated to its treatment "full", provincial health directorate spokesperson Dr. Yad Naqshbandi said.
Sulaimani is currently the epicentre of the COVID-19 virus in the Kurdistan Region, with 300 of the Region's 450 active cases located in the province.
With dedicated facilities in the province at capacity, health officials are having to reassess who will be granted hospital care if case numbers continue to grow.
"We are at a dangerous stage, and if people continue ignoring the measures then we will soon reach a dangerous level and a catastrophe will happen. That time, we will be able to hospitalize only those patients who need ventilators and intense care," Naqshbandi said.
Triage of patients will be replicated across the Kurdistan Region if needed, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health minister Dr. Saman Barzanji told Rudaw.
"We will divide the patients in order to prevent the coronavirus-specified hospitals from being full and so that we continue monitoring the health those patients who are in an unstable condition. We send those patients, who show simpler symptoms, to other places where they will remain under monitoring," Barzanji said.
Rudaw anchor Shaho Amin spoke to a hospitalised coronavirus patient Freeshta Mohammed on air on Sunday.
Currently being treated at Sarchinar hospital in Sulaimani, Mohammed told Amin she was recovering well from the severe breathlessness she'd been left with by the virus.
She urged the public to dismiss the idea that the virus is not real.
"What motive would doctors, the health ministry, healthcare workers have to lie to people about coronavirus?" she asked Amin.
The Kurdistan Region has so far recorded 905 cases of the coronavirus, according to an interactive dashboard provided by the KRG. Fourteen people in the Region have died after contracting the virus.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri and Shahla Omar
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The surge in cases of the coronavirus in Sulaimani has left hospitals dedicated to its treatment "full", provincial health directorate spokesperson Dr. Yad Naqshbandi said.
Sulaimani is currently the epicentre of the COVID-19 virus in the Kurdistan Region, with 300 of the Region's 450 active cases located in the province.
With dedicated facilities in the province at capacity, health officials are having to reassess who will be granted hospital care if case numbers continue to grow.
"We are at a dangerous stage, and if people continue ignoring the measures then we will soon reach a dangerous level and a catastrophe will happen. That time, we will be able to hospitalize only those patients who need ventilators and intense care," Naqshbandi said.
Triage of patients will be replicated across the Kurdistan Region if needed, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health minister Dr. Saman Barzanji told Rudaw.
"We will divide the patients in order to prevent the coronavirus-specified hospitals from being full and so that we continue monitoring the health those patients who are in an unstable condition. We send those patients, who show simpler symptoms, to other places where they will remain under monitoring," Barzanji said.
Rudaw anchor Shaho Amin spoke to a hospitalised coronavirus patient Freeshta Mohammed on air on Sunday.
Currently being treated at Sarchinar hospital in Sulaimani, Mohammed told Amin she was recovering well from the severe breathlessness she'd been left with by the virus.
She urged the public to dismiss the idea that the virus is not real.
"What motive would doctors, the health ministry, healthcare workers have to lie to people about coronavirus?" she asked Amin.
The Kurdistan Region has so far recorded 905 cases of the coronavirus, according to an interactive dashboard provided by the KRG. Fourteen people in the Region have died after contracting the virus.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri and Shahla Omar
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19:23
Ibrahim Khalil border crossing with Turkey to be reopened
The Ibrahim Khalil border crossing as seen from Turkey. Photo: AA
The Turkish government will allow non-commercial traffic through the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing with the Kurdistan Region this week after more than three months of closure due to the spread of COVID-19, said Turkish trade minister on Wednesday.
The minister did not mention who would be allowed through the border, or on what day it would be reopened. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is yet to announce whether it will be allowing traffic through on its side.
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The minister did not mention who would be allowed through the border, or on what day it would be reopened. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is yet to announce whether it will be allowing traffic through on its side.
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18:34
Iraq's daily coronavirus tally sets new record
Iraqi soldiers stop a tuk-tuk at a checkpoint to ensure compliance with the rules in Baghdad's Sadr City on June 3, 2020 amid a curfew. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye/ AFP
Iraqi authorities recorded 781 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths on Wednesday, according to the health ministry.
This is the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths recorded in Iraq in a single day since the onset of the pandemic.
Ten deaths were recorded in the capital city of Baghdad, one in Babil, one in Basra, and one in Maysan.
Rudaw English previously reported on two new deaths recorded in Erbil, and five in Sulaimani province.
587 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Iraq during the past 24 hours, according to the Iraqi health ministry.
This brings the total number of cases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to 8168. Of these, 256 have died and 4095 have recovered.
By Lawk Ghafuri
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This is the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths recorded in Iraq in a single day since the onset of the pandemic.
Ten deaths were recorded in the capital city of Baghdad, one in Babil, one in Basra, and one in Maysan.
Rudaw English previously reported on two new deaths recorded in Erbil, and five in Sulaimani province.
587 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Iraq during the past 24 hours, according to the Iraqi health ministry.
This brings the total number of cases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to 8168. Of these, 256 have died and 4095 have recovered.
By Lawk Ghafuri
18:04
Face mask usage to be compulsory in Erbil: governor
Firsat Sofi, governor of Erbil. Photo: Rudaw TV
Firsat Sofi, governor of Erbil, told Rudaw Wednesday that residents of the province must wear face masks outside of the home, adding that the government will begin distributing 150,000 face masks on Thursday for free.
“We have purchased 150,000 masks and decided to distribute them to residents of all ten districts affiliated to Erbil province. Starting early tomorrow, our teams will distribute masks at bazaars, shops, taxis, and other places for free,” he said.
He added that the government has formed multiple teams to monitor the implementation of health measures.
“If a large amount of contact or crowds are witnessed, and people are not wearing masks or following the health measures … these places will be closed,” warned the governor.
The Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry imposed a six-day complete lockdown on Monday evening following a dramatic increase in new cases of COVID-19 patients, but backtracked two days later, allowing local governments to ease movement restrictions after several protests took place in Sulaimani province.
The provinces' governors announced that the lockdown will be lifted on Wednesday evening, but stricter health measures would be enforced.
Sofi also announced that worshippers at mosques must wear masks while praying, in addition to bringing their own prayer rugs with them to the houses of worship.
Mentioning the two COVID-19 related deaths recorded in Erbil on Tuesday, the governor warned that, “If we are not cautious, the number of deaths could rise to tens and hundreds [in Erbil].”
Wearing face masks or latex gloves in public places has not gained popular appeal in the Kurdistan Region. Some residents have lost confidence in the government’s public health measures, with many questioning the very existence of the virus.
The governor says that the government can only afford the free allocation of masks for a few days, adding that when government offices reopen they will provide free masks in receptions.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
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“We have purchased 150,000 masks and decided to distribute them to residents of all ten districts affiliated to Erbil province. Starting early tomorrow, our teams will distribute masks at bazaars, shops, taxis, and other places for free,” he said.
He added that the government has formed multiple teams to monitor the implementation of health measures.
“If a large amount of contact or crowds are witnessed, and people are not wearing masks or following the health measures … these places will be closed,” warned the governor.
The Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry imposed a six-day complete lockdown on Monday evening following a dramatic increase in new cases of COVID-19 patients, but backtracked two days later, allowing local governments to ease movement restrictions after several protests took place in Sulaimani province.
The provinces' governors announced that the lockdown will be lifted on Wednesday evening, but stricter health measures would be enforced.
Sofi also announced that worshippers at mosques must wear masks while praying, in addition to bringing their own prayer rugs with them to the houses of worship.
Mentioning the two COVID-19 related deaths recorded in Erbil on Tuesday, the governor warned that, “If we are not cautious, the number of deaths could rise to tens and hundreds [in Erbil].”
Wearing face masks or latex gloves in public places has not gained popular appeal in the Kurdistan Region. Some residents have lost confidence in the government’s public health measures, with many questioning the very existence of the virus.
The governor says that the government can only afford the free allocation of masks for a few days, adding that when government offices reopen they will provide free masks in receptions.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
15:17
At least 50 COVID-19 patients with ‘severe symptoms’ in Sulaimani
File photo: Bilind T.Abdullah/Rudaw
A health official in Sulaimani - the epicenter of COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region - announced on Wednesday that at least 50 coronavirus patients in Sulaimani province have displayed severe symptoms of the virus.
Of 274 active cases in the province "50 of them have shown severe symptoms of the virus, with three in critical condition," Herish Haidr, head of Sulaimani’s Coronavirus Response Board in Sulaimani told Rudaw.
According to Haider, a “large number” of COVID-19 tests have been carried out today.
The results will be announced around 9 to 10pm, he added.
Of 448 cases, 163 patients have made full recoveries in Sulaimani and 11 have died.
12:17
19 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Duhok
A health worker treats a COVID-19 patient at Erbil's Peshmerga hospital. File photo: Bilind T.Abdullah/Rudaw
Nineteen new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Duhok city on Wednesday morning, according to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials.
"They have all come into contact with previous infected patients who had attended a feast," according to a statement from the KRG's Ministry of Health.
This comes one day after 33 people were confirmed to have caught the virus at the same gathering.
The number of coronavirus cases in the Kurdistan Region has skyrocketed in recent days, with 849 cases now recorded. Of this number, 401 are active.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani issued a strongly worded statement last week to warn that the public's decreasing commitment to the government's health instructions has led to the disease "swiftly spreading."
Though the government on Monday imposed a total six-day lockdown to help curb the surge in cases, the decision was rescinded on Tuesday following mounting pressure from business owners desperate to reopen after months of closures.
By Zhelwan Z. Wali
12:16
June 3: Latest COVID-19 updates from the Kurdistan Region and beyond
Health workers at Erbil's Peshmerga hospital. File photo: Bilind T.Abdullah/Rudaw
The Kurdistan Regional Government advises anyone in the Kurdistan Region displaying coronavirus symptoms to call its emergency hotline on 122. This service is available in Kurdish and Arabic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information can be found on the government’s website.
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