ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Langa Bazaar, a market that predominantly sells second-hand goods, is a landmark in the Kurdistan Region capital. Rarely has it been seen as empty as it is these days.

Market shop owners say they are being dealt a double blow by a lack of customers and high commercial rents.

"The Langa Bazaar is in a terrible situation these days," shop owner Hawre Bahram complains. "If the situation continues like this, the shops will be shut in less than two months."

"The rent we pay is too high, and there are no customers to sell to," he said.

The market underwent large-scale renovation after a major fire caused by an electrical fault in October 2018.

Erbil has seen a total of 1,141 COVID-19 cases, 667 of which remain active. Twenty-two people in the province have died after contracting the virus.

With coronavirus case numbers showing no sign of slowing, a week-long limited lockdown, including the shutdown of public places at night from 8 pm to 5 am and closure of government offices, began on Friday.

"We made this decision because we are currently in an extremely dangerous situation, as the coronavirus is everywhere," governor Firsat Sofi told reporters on Thursday.