09-04-2020
23:50
Iraqi health ministry confirms 30 new coronavirus cases
An Iraqi Mouezzin calls for prayer in an empty mosque in Iraq's southern city of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar province, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis, on April 9, 2020. Photo: Asaad Niazi/ AFP
Thirty people have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, according to a statement by the Iraqi health ministry.
The capital city of Baghdad has the lion’s shares of the cases, with 12 people testing positive for the virus.
No deaths were recorded, but 44 people have recovered during this period, says the ministry.
The data puts the total number of cases in Iraq and Kurdistan Region at 1232, including 69 deaths and 496 recoveries.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
18:16
Two new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the Kurdistan Region: health ministry
Erbil under lockdown. Photo: Bilind T. Abdullah
Two people in the provinces of Erbil and Halabja have tested positive for COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, according to a statement by the Kurdistan Region's health ministry.
With these new figures the total number of cases in the Region has reached 311, including 125 recoveries and three deaths.
Most identified coronavirus-carriers in Duhok and Sulaimani have recovered, however, dozens of new cases have been traced back to two wakes in Erbil on March 21 and 23, making the Region's capital the new epicentre of the pandemic.
Thursday’s new case in Erbil is also from one of the 11 neighborhoods that have been on strict lockdown by security forces after some of their residents attended the illicit wakes last month.
In an earlier statement on Thursday, the ministry called for the testing of media agencies’ field reporters, asking them to visit the government's coronavirus centers "so that [the ministry can] find COVID-19 cases.”
Journalists have thus far been excluded from those required to be on lockdown in the Kurdistan Region. However, these essential workers are often in close proximity to coronavirus patients and those suspected of having the virus while reporting.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
With these new figures the total number of cases in the Region has reached 311, including 125 recoveries and three deaths.
Most identified coronavirus-carriers in Duhok and Sulaimani have recovered, however, dozens of new cases have been traced back to two wakes in Erbil on March 21 and 23, making the Region's capital the new epicentre of the pandemic.
Thursday’s new case in Erbil is also from one of the 11 neighborhoods that have been on strict lockdown by security forces after some of their residents attended the illicit wakes last month.
In an earlier statement on Thursday, the ministry called for the testing of media agencies’ field reporters, asking them to visit the government's coronavirus centers "so that [the ministry can] find COVID-19 cases.”
Journalists have thus far been excluded from those required to be on lockdown in the Kurdistan Region. However, these essential workers are often in close proximity to coronavirus patients and those suspected of having the virus while reporting.
By Karwan Faidhi Dri
08:51
April 9: Latest COVID-19 updates from the Kurdistan Region and beyond
A member of the COVID-19 Crisis Cell holds a vial at Basra university, southern Iraq, April 6, 2020. Photo: Hussein Faleh / AFP
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The Kurdistan Regional Government advises anyone in the Kurdistan Region displaying coronavirus symptoms to call its emergency hotline on 122. This service is available in Kurdish and Arabic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information can be found on the government’s website.
Catch up on past updates here