SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region reported 1,217 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, the biggest daily rise in infections this year, according to the health ministry.
In a statement, the Region’s health ministry said it had recorded 270 cases in Erbil, 373 in Sulaimani, 503 in Duhok, 67 in Garmian and four in Raparin.
The ministry added that 13 patients had died from the virus in Erbil, Sulaimani and Duho, while 408 others had recovered in the past 24 hours.
The Kurdistan Region’s total number of infections rose to 128,264 COVID-19 cases, with 3,756 deaths and 112,334 recoveries, the ministry’s figures showed.
Kurdish health officials have warned that the Kurdistan Region is facing a “dangerous phase” of the coronavirus pandemic, urging people to follow the health guidelines designed to curb the virus spread.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) imposed a ban on travel between the Region and other Iraqi provinces on Monday, as part of measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
On March 31, the KRG supreme committee to combat coronavirus also closed all religious sites, including mosques, churches and temples, as part of measures to curb the virus spread.
The ministry of interior also announced new restrictions on March 30.
Under the new restrictions, schools and universities remain closed until April 10, according to the ministry. Restaurants, cafeterias, clubs, game centers and other public places will be closed at 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. every day.
