Second coronavirus case confirmed in Erbil
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A second person has tested positive for coronavirus in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil, according to the KRG’s health ministry, one day after the city’s first case was recorded. Confirmed cases of the virus in the Region now total 10.
Erbil’s second confirmed case, a 49-year-old woman who recently visited Iran for treatment of an unrelated illness, was one of over seventy people tested by Kurdish health authorities after displaying suspected coronavirus symptoms.
“Seventy-two suspects have been tested in the last 24 hours, and one of them tested positive,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region’s health ministry late on Saturday.
The city's first case, a 33-year-old pregnant woman, was confirmed late on Friday. Municipal authorities say she is in good health.
Iraq’s health ministry announced eight new cases of the virus on Saturday; seven cases were recorded in Baghdad, and one in Najaf.
Fifty-five cases of the virus have been recorded in Iraq, including those in the Kurdistan Region. Four of those who contracted the virus have died, and two others have recovered.
The Iraqi government’s crisis unit said shopping centers will only open three hours a day, schools and universities will be closed until March 21, and public administrations will only open for a few hours a day, effective from Saturday. Schools, universities, cinemas and other public spaces had already been closed for the past week.
Movement across the border with Iran, one of the countries worst impacted by the virus, has been heavily restricted, and flights serving Iranian cities are cancelled.
Kurdish authorities ordered the closure of schools, banned large public gatherings, and cut government working hours 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.
Municipal workers could be seen disinfecting the streets around Erbil’s historic bazaar and citadel and other public areas on Saturday.
Erbil’s governor urged residents to err on the side of caution by avoiding inter-city travel and group gatherings.
“The residents [of Erbil] have to resist in the coming few days and avoid trips and picnics. They must not go to crowded areas or other cities,” governor Firsat Sofi said in a press conference on Saturday.
So far 2,872 people entering the Kurdistan Region – predominantly from Iran – have been quarantined. According to Saturday’s health ministry statement, 1,254 of them have been cleared to leave quarantine.
Iraqi citizens returning from Iran were required to spend two weeks in quarantine before they are permitted to return home.
Erbil’s second confirmed case, a 49-year-old woman who recently visited Iran for treatment of an unrelated illness, was one of over seventy people tested by Kurdish health authorities after displaying suspected coronavirus symptoms.
“Seventy-two suspects have been tested in the last 24 hours, and one of them tested positive,” read a statement from Kurdistan Region’s health ministry late on Saturday.
The city's first case, a 33-year-old pregnant woman, was confirmed late on Friday. Municipal authorities say she is in good health.
Iraq’s health ministry announced eight new cases of the virus on Saturday; seven cases were recorded in Baghdad, and one in Najaf.
Fifty-five cases of the virus have been recorded in Iraq, including those in the Kurdistan Region. Four of those who contracted the virus have died, and two others have recovered.
The Iraqi government’s crisis unit said shopping centers will only open three hours a day, schools and universities will be closed until March 21, and public administrations will only open for a few hours a day, effective from Saturday. Schools, universities, cinemas and other public spaces had already been closed for the past week.
Movement across the border with Iran, one of the countries worst impacted by the virus, has been heavily restricted, and flights serving Iranian cities are cancelled.
Kurdish authorities ordered the closure of schools, banned large public gatherings, and cut government working hours 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.
Municipal workers could be seen disinfecting the streets around Erbil’s historic bazaar and citadel and other public areas on Saturday.
Erbil’s governor urged residents to err on the side of caution by avoiding inter-city travel and group gatherings.
“The residents [of Erbil] have to resist in the coming few days and avoid trips and picnics. They must not go to crowded areas or other cities,” governor Firsat Sofi said in a press conference on Saturday.
So far 2,872 people entering the Kurdistan Region – predominantly from Iran – have been quarantined. According to Saturday’s health ministry statement, 1,254 of them have been cleared to leave quarantine.
Iraqi citizens returning from Iran were required to spend two weeks in quarantine before they are permitted to return home.