SULAIMANI (ESTA) — A senior health official said the number of infections by Omicron variant of coronavirus has surged in Sulaimani province, with the registration of 200-300 cases daily.
“The number of infections has increased highly, while deaths and hospitalization have fallen,” deputy director of health Hersh Said Salim told Esta Media Network on Wednesday.
On January 6, Health Minister Saman Barzinji announced the first cases of Omicron variant recorded among members of a family who live in Duhok city.
Authorities in Sulaimani announced 42 cases of the new variant on January 19.
Kurdish health officials say those who have received two doses of coronavirus vaccines have had mild symptoms.
“The rate of infections by Omicron is very high. There are 200 to 300 positive cases every day,” Salim said.
While studies have indicated that Omicron results in a less severe COVID-19 than seen during previous waves, the variant has quickly become dominant in many parts of the world, driving up infections and straining healthcare systems.
The Region’s health ministry said on Wednesday that it had recorded 1,336 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours. The number of infections has begun to rise since January 10.
As of Wednesday, the Kurdistan Region had recorded 401,964 coronavirus infections, including 7,197 deaths, according to the ministry’s figures.
