The KRG Ministry of Health has confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region, including four in Sulaimani province and one in Erbil city.

The total number of cases now stands at 330 across the Kurdistan Region.

Of this number, 145 have recovered and four have died.

By Zhelwan Z. Wali 

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Turkey on Saturday reported 95 new COVID-19 deaths in the course of the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 1,101.

Another 5,135 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 52,167, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

Koca added that 2,965 have recovered from the illness.

A total of 340,380 tests have been conducted across the country since the pandemic began.

"The number of cases is predictably increasing with the rise in the number of tests being conducted," Anadolu Agency quoted the minister as saying. "Turkey is having serious success in treatment. The real success is to be protected from the virus."

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 1,626 patients are being treated in intensive care units across the country.

By Zhelwan Z. Wali

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Iran's COVID-19 case toll has climbed to 70,029, the health ministry announced on Saturday, with 4,357 deaths recorded since the country's first confirmed novel coronavirus case 52 days ago.

The last 24 hours saw 125 deaths and 1,837 new cases, according to health ministry official Alireza Vahabzadeh.

Over 41,000 recoveries have been recorded, Vahabzadeh added.

After several days of steadying in officially announced infection rates, a worrying resurgence has been recorded in the Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan, Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Tehran and West Azerbaijan, according to Iranian helalth ministry spokesperson Kianoush Jahanpour. 

Today's update coincides with the end of some government restrictions on "medium and low-risk" activities, as announced by President Rouhani last week - with millions set to return to their workplaces. 

Higher-risk non-essential activities including sport and cultural events remained "banned until further notice," Rouhani said. 

While maintaining that people must remain indoors unless necessary, 
 
Iranian public response to movement restrictions to prevent spread of the virus have caused blood banks to run low, Jahanpour said. He called for those able to become donors to fill the supply shortage.

By Fazel Hawramy Continue Reading

A dose of good news amid coronavirus-induced gloom — a cancer patient who contracted COVID-19 has made a full recovery from the virus, a top Erbil health official told Rudaw on Saturday.

The 49-year-old woman was hospitalised for treatment of the virus three weeks ago, General Director of Health Dr. Dlovan Mohammed said.

People with existing health problems are known to be more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.

By Sarkawt Mohammed 
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Residents of Ankara poured into markets and shopping streets to stock up on basic supplies last night upon the Turkish interior ministry's last-minute announcement of a 48-hour lockdown in cities nationwide.

The lockdown applies to 64 million of Turkey's 83 million-strong population. It was announced just over two hours before coming into effect Friday midnight.

Cases of COVID-19 in the country continue to grow at alarming rate, with 4,747 new cases confirmed in just 24 hours, health minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Friday night. 

The curfew impacts 8 Kurdish cities and their surrounding areas of Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Marash, Malatya, Merdin, Van and Sanliurfa, and major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Kocaeli, Konya.

Measures to curb the spread of coronavirus are also being ordered by provincial authorities, with Van governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez announcing that markets and customers have to wear face masks and latex gloves. 

"Workplaces must provide their personnel and customers with free masks,"  Bilmez said on Twitter. "Those who do not adhere to the rules will be fined 3,150 Turkish lira ($470), and if they repeat it [the violation] legal procedures will be taken."

By Sarkawt Mohammed and Karwan Faidhi Dri  Continue Reading

How are you coping under the lockdown? Send your comments and photos to our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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.

Catch up on past updates here  Continue Reading