Duhok father and son die of coronavirus in space of five days

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A father and son who contracted coronavirus died within five days of each other, a relative and a Duhok health official have told Rudaw, as cases of the virus skyrocket in the province.

Duhok city environmental police officer Rafie Waadulla, 36, died on Tuesday. His 64-year-old father, former Duhok police chief Waadulla Mohammed, lost his battle with the virus on Sunday, according to Hamza Reziki, spokesperson for Duhok's health directorate.

"The death by coronavirus of my brother, who had a chronic heart condition, affected the psychological and physical condition of my father, who had also been infected with this virus," Rafie's brother Abdulla told Rudaw.

"My father's health deteriorated day after day, until he died last night," Abdulla said.

Other members of the family are contending with the virus, with "Rafie's wife also infected and in hospital," Abdulla added.

For months, Duhok was one of the provinces least impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, recording far less cases that Erbil and Sulaimani. However, the province has seen case numbers spike in recent days. In the 24 hours covered by a Sunday afternoon statement from the KRG health ministry, the province had recorded 241 of the Kurdistan Region's 540 new cases – the most of any province.

Duhok has recorded almost 3,900 of the Kurdistan Region's more than 28,000 coronavirus cases, according to KRG health ministry figures.

Despite consistently high coronavirus case numbers, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) measures to curb its spread have been relaxed across provinces. Tourist sites and resorts in the Kurdistan Region have seen large crowds, with few holidaymakers seen wearing face masks or practicing social distancing.

Face masks are meant to be mandatory at all times, with the KRG interior ministry announcing on August 20 that "anyone who does not wear a face mask outside their houses will be fined 20,000 dinars ($16.20)." However, the order has not been enforced.

Duhok father and son die of coronavirus in space of five days

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