Three more cases of coronavirus confirmed in Kurdistan Region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Kurdistan Region, according to the KRG's Ministry of Health. 

"Over the past 24 hours, tests were done on 56 suspects including 37 suspects in Erbil, 18 in Sulaimani and one in Duhok. Of this number, three tested positive," said a statement released on Sunday.

One of those who tested positive recently returned from Iran and is the 53-year-old sister of a woman who yesterday tested positive for the virus in Erbil, according to the ministry. 

Erbil now has three cases of the virus, which have all emerged over the past three days. 

The city's first case, a 33-year-old pregnant woman, was confirmed late on Friday. Municipal authorities say she is in good health

The other cases are a 53-year old man, who also recently travelled to Iran, and a 52-year-old man who contracted the virus from an elderly cleric in Sulaimani who has since died. 

"Of 2918 people put in the quarantines across 31 different locations, only 1128 people have stayed in them and 1790 have been cleared to return home after spending 14 days in the quarantine," the ministry added.

 

 Kurdistan Region authorities ordered the closure of schools, banned large public gatherings, and cut government working hours at the end of last month 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. 

 

Updated 10.28pm