23-04-2020
23:48
Iraq extends commercial flight ban to May 22
Photo: Sulaimani International Airport facebook page.
The nationwide ban on commercial passenger flights to curb the spread of coronavirus has been extended to May 22, as per instructions from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority.
Sulaimani International Airport said in a Facebook post late Thursday that they have been told the current ban will remain in place until May 22 by the the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority.
As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority banned commercial passenger flights on March 17.
Iraq has a total of 1,678 cases, including those in the Kurdistan Region. To date, 1,171 people have recovered, and 83 have died in the country. Continue Reading
Sulaimani International Airport said in a Facebook post late Thursday that they have been told the current ban will remain in place until May 22 by the the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority.
As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority banned commercial passenger flights on March 17.
Iraq has a total of 1,678 cases, including those in the Kurdistan Region. To date, 1,171 people have recovered, and 83 have died in the country. Continue Reading
22:51
Coronavirus cases in Turkey surpass 100,000: health minister
People celebrate with Turkish flags on their balconies in Istanbul to mark the National Sovereignty and Children's Day on April 23, 2020. Photo: Yasin Akgul / AFP
More than 3,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Turkey in the last 24 hours, health minister Fahrettin Koca said late on Thursday, bringing the nationwide case total to over 100,000.
Turkey has seen 3,116 new cases, 115 deaths and 2,014 recoveries in a 24-hour time period, according to data posted by Koca on Twitter.
To date, 101,790 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country, 18,491 of which have resulted in recovery and 2, 491 in death.
Turkey has taken wide-ranging measures to curb the spread of the virus, such as a flight bans, school closures, and periodic lockdowns in 31 cities, typically on weekends. Additionally, people over 65 and under 20 have been confined to their homes.
Today marked the 100th anniversary of Turkey's parliament, and its National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Both occasions were celebrated despite movement restrictions; officials even violated social distancing rules, according to a report by independent Turkish outlet Duvar English.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri Continue Reading
Turkey has seen 3,116 new cases, 115 deaths and 2,014 recoveries in a 24-hour time period, according to data posted by Koca on Twitter.
To date, 101,790 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country, 18,491 of which have resulted in recovery and 2, 491 in death.
Turkey has taken wide-ranging measures to curb the spread of the virus, such as a flight bans, school closures, and periodic lockdowns in 31 cities, typically on weekends. Additionally, people over 65 and under 20 have been confined to their homes.
Today marked the 100th anniversary of Turkey's parliament, and its National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Both occasions were celebrated despite movement restrictions; officials even violated social distancing rules, according to a report by independent Turkish outlet Duvar English.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri Continue Reading
21:59
New COVID-19 case recorded in Sulaimani amid lockdown ease
-
A new COVID-19 was recorded in Sulaimani province late on Thursday, according to the Kurdistan Region's health ministry, the second positive test for the virus announced in the Region in the space of a few hours.
The new patient is a 39-year old man, living in Sulaimani city. He had recently flown in from the UK and was placed in quarantine upon his arrival, the ministry said in a statement.
Before today's two positive COVID-19 tests, the Kurdistan Region had not seen any new cases recorded in five days.
As incidences of new cases dried up and recovery numbers grew, the Kurdistan Regional Government began to ease the strict lockdown measures it had introduced in mid-March. Duhok province authorities even held celebrations to mark "victory" over the virus - before a case was confirmed earlier today.
To date, 339 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kurdistan Region, with 312 recoveries recorded so far. Sulamani province has seen all four of the Kurdistan Region's COVID-19 fatalities.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
Continue Reading
The new patient is a 39-year old man, living in Sulaimani city. He had recently flown in from the UK and was placed in quarantine upon his arrival, the ministry said in a statement.
Before today's two positive COVID-19 tests, the Kurdistan Region had not seen any new cases recorded in five days.
As incidences of new cases dried up and recovery numbers grew, the Kurdistan Regional Government began to ease the strict lockdown measures it had introduced in mid-March. Duhok province authorities even held celebrations to mark "victory" over the virus - before a case was confirmed earlier today.
To date, 339 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Kurdistan Region, with 312 recoveries recorded so far. Sulamani province has seen all four of the Kurdistan Region's COVID-19 fatalities.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
21:11
Erbil malls, city center shops, clinics to reopen Friday: crisis cell
Erbil's deserted central bazaar in March 2020. File photo: Bilind T. Abdullah / Rudaw
Most Erbil businesses - including malls, bazaars and clinics - are to reopen on Friday, the province’s crisis cell has announced.
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s interior ministry on Thursday extended the Region-wide lockdown to May 1, but gave local governments the authority to make adjustments to how it is enforced from midnight to 6 pm.
Within those hours, "malls, bazaars and shops will reopen [on Friday], on the condition that they implement health measures," Erbil's Operation Room said in a statement.
Car dealerships will reopen except on Fridays, while city center shops and large bazaars - all of which have been closed for over a month - will reopen.
However, nightclubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, teahouses, swimming pools, baths, fitness halls, sports halls, wedding halls, religious and social halls, massage centers and casinos remain closed. Wakes also continue to be banned.
Clinics can be reopened from 2-6pm, on the condition that they only receive 15 patients a day, have only four people in the waiting room at any given time, and everyone there wears face masks and latex gloves.
Malls will reopen, but cafes and restaurants within them will remain closed, unless the latter offers delivery service. Mall-goers must wear face masks and latex gloves.
As announced by KRG’s transport and communications ministry, taxis are to be allowed to operate from Friday, but only if precautionary measures are taken.
Drivers and passengers must wear face masks and latex gloves, and only two passengers are allowed in a taxi - both of whom must sit in the back seat with their windows partially open.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
Continue Reading
The Kurdistan Regional Government’s interior ministry on Thursday extended the Region-wide lockdown to May 1, but gave local governments the authority to make adjustments to how it is enforced from midnight to 6 pm.
Within those hours, "malls, bazaars and shops will reopen [on Friday], on the condition that they implement health measures," Erbil's Operation Room said in a statement.
Car dealerships will reopen except on Fridays, while city center shops and large bazaars - all of which have been closed for over a month - will reopen.
However, nightclubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, teahouses, swimming pools, baths, fitness halls, sports halls, wedding halls, religious and social halls, massage centers and casinos remain closed. Wakes also continue to be banned.
Clinics can be reopened from 2-6pm, on the condition that they only receive 15 patients a day, have only four people in the waiting room at any given time, and everyone there wears face masks and latex gloves.
Malls will reopen, but cafes and restaurants within them will remain closed, unless the latter offers delivery service. Mall-goers must wear face masks and latex gloves.
As announced by KRG’s transport and communications ministry, taxis are to be allowed to operate from Friday, but only if precautionary measures are taken.
Drivers and passengers must wear face masks and latex gloves, and only two passengers are allowed in a taxi - both of whom must sit in the back seat with their windows partially open.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
19:07
Iraq records 46 new COVID-19 cases, 25 recoveries: health ministry
A health worker checks a resident's temperature at the entrance of the Iraqi southern city of Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar province on April 22, 2020. Photo: Asaad Niazi / AFP
Forty-six people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Iraq in the last 24 hours, the country's health ministry has announced.
The capital city of Baghdad recorded 17 new cases, according to ministry data. Ten were recorded in Babil, nine in Najaf, and seven in Basra. The provinces of Misan, Muthanna and Saladin recorded one case each.
There have been 25 recoveries from COVID-19 in 24 hours, the data added, and no deaths.
A total of 1,678 cases have so far been recorded in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. To date, 1,171 people have recovered, and 83 have died.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri Continue Reading
The capital city of Baghdad recorded 17 new cases, according to ministry data. Ten were recorded in Babil, nine in Najaf, and seven in Basra. The provinces of Misan, Muthanna and Saladin recorded one case each.
There have been 25 recoveries from COVID-19 in 24 hours, the data added, and no deaths.
A total of 1,678 cases have so far been recorded in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. To date, 1,171 people have recovered, and 83 have died.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri Continue Reading
18:50
KRG extends lockdown to May 1, some measures adjusted for Ramadan
File photo: Bilind T. Abdullah / Rudaw
Coronavirus lockdown measures of varying severity are to be extended until May 1, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry has announced, with some restrictions to be adjusted for the upcoming month of Ramadan.
“Complete lockdown” will continue to be applied from 6 pm to midnight, exempting only essential traffic, the ministry said in a decree. Security force members, health workers, media agency workers are among those exempt from its restrictions.
A partial lockdown will be implemented for the remaining hours of the day, its restrictions differing by province. The measures mostly affect areas that witness mass gatherings, such as the city center and larger-scale bazaars.
In a slight easing of some lockdown measures, local governments will now have the authority to “allow the reopening of essential public services, especially bakeries, from midnight to 4 am due to the [advent of] holy month of Ramadan,” the statement read.
And residents of the Kurdistan Region who have until now been stranded in Iraqi cities can return to their homes upon testing negative for the virus, the interior ministry said.
The KRG's transport and communications ministry announced earlier today that taxis are to be allowed to operate from Friday, but only if precautionary measures are taken.
Drivers and passengers must wear face masks and latex gloves, and only two passengers are allowed in a taxi - both of whom must sit in the back seat with their windows partially open.
With observers of the holy Muslim month usually gathering for congregational prayers, the KRG's health ministry announced on Wednesday that mosques would remain shut over course of Ramadan.
The Kurdistan Region has so far recorded a total of 338 COVID-19 cases, including 22 active cases, four deaths and 312 recoveries.
A new COVID-19 case was recorded in Duhok province on Thursday, a day after the province's declaration of "victory" over the virus. Celebratory gunfire at the victory gatherings injured at least 13 people.
Kurdistan Region's health minister Saman Barzinji warned minutes before the announcement of a new case in Duhok that the threat posed by the outbreak is not over.
"The new measures are aimed at serving the public, rather than meaning the disease is at an end. The COVID-19 threat is not over yet. We have to expect its spread at any moment, and we have to continue preventing and confronting corona[virus] and adhere to health instructions,” he said.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
Continue Reading
“Complete lockdown” will continue to be applied from 6 pm to midnight, exempting only essential traffic, the ministry said in a decree. Security force members, health workers, media agency workers are among those exempt from its restrictions.
A partial lockdown will be implemented for the remaining hours of the day, its restrictions differing by province. The measures mostly affect areas that witness mass gatherings, such as the city center and larger-scale bazaars.
In a slight easing of some lockdown measures, local governments will now have the authority to “allow the reopening of essential public services, especially bakeries, from midnight to 4 am due to the [advent of] holy month of Ramadan,” the statement read.
And residents of the Kurdistan Region who have until now been stranded in Iraqi cities can return to their homes upon testing negative for the virus, the interior ministry said.
The KRG's transport and communications ministry announced earlier today that taxis are to be allowed to operate from Friday, but only if precautionary measures are taken.
Drivers and passengers must wear face masks and latex gloves, and only two passengers are allowed in a taxi - both of whom must sit in the back seat with their windows partially open.
With observers of the holy Muslim month usually gathering for congregational prayers, the KRG's health ministry announced on Wednesday that mosques would remain shut over course of Ramadan.
The Kurdistan Region has so far recorded a total of 338 COVID-19 cases, including 22 active cases, four deaths and 312 recoveries.
A new COVID-19 case was recorded in Duhok province on Thursday, a day after the province's declaration of "victory" over the virus. Celebratory gunfire at the victory gatherings injured at least 13 people.
Kurdistan Region's health minister Saman Barzinji warned minutes before the announcement of a new case in Duhok that the threat posed by the outbreak is not over.
"The new measures are aimed at serving the public, rather than meaning the disease is at an end. The COVID-19 threat is not over yet. We have to expect its spread at any moment, and we have to continue preventing and confronting corona[virus] and adhere to health instructions,” he said.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
Continue Reading
17:33
New COVID-19 case recorded in Duhok, one day after virus 'victory' celebrations
-
One new case of the COVID-19 virus was confirmed in Duhok province on Thursday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health ministry has said, a day after the province held celebrations marking "victory" over the virus.
The newly infected person is a 46-year-old physician living in Duhok city, according to a statement from the ministry.
Duhok has been one of Iraq's least affected provinces, having recorded only 15 novel coronavirus cases before today's announcement.
Provincial officials announced on Sunday that all 15 of its patients had made full recoveries, before attention turned to planning Wednesday night's celebration.
Authorities called on the province's residents to take to the streets and light candles, and drone footage captured by Rudaw showed fireworks light up the city's sky.
But the light-hearted events took a dark turn when some residents fired machine guns, pistols and rifles in celebration, injuring at least 13 people.
Today's new COVID-19 case takes the Kurdistan Region total to 338 - including 22 active cases, four deaths and 312 recoveries.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
Continue Reading
The newly infected person is a 46-year-old physician living in Duhok city, according to a statement from the ministry.
Duhok has been one of Iraq's least affected provinces, having recorded only 15 novel coronavirus cases before today's announcement.
Provincial officials announced on Sunday that all 15 of its patients had made full recoveries, before attention turned to planning Wednesday night's celebration.
Authorities called on the province's residents to take to the streets and light candles, and drone footage captured by Rudaw showed fireworks light up the city's sky.
But the light-hearted events took a dark turn when some residents fired machine guns, pistols and rifles in celebration, injuring at least 13 people.
Today's new COVID-19 case takes the Kurdistan Region total to 338 - including 22 active cases, four deaths and 312 recoveries.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
17:06
April 23: Latest COVID-19 updates from the Kurdistan Region and beyond
A Sunni Muslim cleric wearing a face mask uses a telescope to gaze while searching for the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan in Baghdad on April 22, 2020. Photo: Ahmad al-Rubaye / AFP
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
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