USAID provides coronavirus supplies to Kurdistan Region universities

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday announced that it was providing coronavirus supplies to universities in the Kurdistan Region, according to the US consulate in Erbil.

The agency is providing supplies including “personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers, oximeters, sanitizing material for teachers and students of thirteen public universities,” the statement from the consulate reads.

The US has provided assistance to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq several times since the start of the pandemic to aid them in their fight against COVID-19.

USAID created a $670,000 fund to help the World Health Organization (WHO) support Iraq in fighting the virus in earlier stages of the pandemic.

The US also delivered medical and laboratory aid to the Kurdistan Region’s health sector in January, including equipment for oxygen ventilators, oximeters, disinfectant machines, and protective outfits.

USAID also funded a 20-bed coronavirus isolation ward in Duhok in October to use for severe coronavirus cases and treat patients with respiratory illness.

“We will continue to work with the KRG as we face this pandemic, and we will all come through this together,” U.S. Consul General Rob Waller said at the time, referring to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Health on Tuesday placed new coronavirus restrictions as cases continue to rise, including keeping schools and universities closed until April 10 and opening them only for exams.

Erbil province's coronavirus crisis cell warned on Sunday that it would impose a complete lockdown for the sake of public health if residents did not adhere to health guidelines.

The Kurdistan Region on Tuesday recorded 860 new cases and seven deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total cases to 121,179 recoveries and the deaths to 3,660, according to the latest data from the KRG health ministry.

The Region has received more than 43,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, expecting vaccinations to begin on Monday.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani expressed concern over the surge in COVID-19 cases across the Region.

“I urge all four governors to recognize their solemn responsibility to the public and the nation. That begins by fully adopting the latest public measures,” he said in a tweet on Monday.

USAID provides coronavirus supplies to Kurdistan Region universities

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