Coronavirus: Kurdistan Region sees record single-day high of 788 new cases
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The Kurdistan Region saw a record single-day high of 788 new coronavirus cases, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health ministry announced on Monday afternoon.
There were also 431 new recoveries and 24 deaths over the same time period, the health ministry said in its statement.
Duhok, once the Kurdistan Region province least impacted by the virus, saw 349 cases in one day, according to the statement - more than any other province. Erbil province closely followed, recording 281 cases in one day.
The Kurdistan Region's record high comes weeks after the government relaxed virtually all coronavirus-related restrictions. A late August interior ministry order for people to wear protective masks in public or face a 20,000 dinar ($16.20) fine has been widely ignored, with penalties not issued.
The Kurdistan Region saw its first coronavirus cases in early March. Later that month, the KRG imposed widespread restrictions on non-essential movement. It began to gradually ease measures over April and May as case numbers receded. However, cases began to spike once more in late May, with little relent since.
The Kurdistan Region has recorded 32,998 coronavirus cases, including 20,923 recoveries and 1,231 deaths, since the outbreak began.
Among those confirmed to have tested positive for the virus on Monday was KRG finance minister Awat Sheikh Janab, who will be forced to sit out this week's Erbil delegation visit to Baghdad for budget talks, according to a KRG finance ministry statement.
Iraq's health ministry announced on Monday afternoon that 4,314 new cases had been recorded in the country in 24 hours, as well as 4,299 recoveries and 77 deaths.
Duhok saw the third highest province daily case numbers in the whole of Iraq, after Baghdad and Najaf.
The World Health Organisation's head of mission in Iraq warned on Monday that a second wave of coronavirus would hit Iraq by October and November of this year.
All that can be done to protect against the second wave is "to take health measures seriously," Iraqi state media quoted WHO representative Adham Rashad Ismail as saying.
Iraq has recorded 264,864 coronavirus cases, including 202,829 recoveries and 7,589 deaths, since the outbreak began.
Updated at 8:22 pm
There were also 431 new recoveries and 24 deaths over the same time period, the health ministry said in its statement.
Duhok, once the Kurdistan Region province least impacted by the virus, saw 349 cases in one day, according to the statement - more than any other province. Erbil province closely followed, recording 281 cases in one day.
The Kurdistan Region's record high comes weeks after the government relaxed virtually all coronavirus-related restrictions. A late August interior ministry order for people to wear protective masks in public or face a 20,000 dinar ($16.20) fine has been widely ignored, with penalties not issued.
The Kurdistan Region saw its first coronavirus cases in early March. Later that month, the KRG imposed widespread restrictions on non-essential movement. It began to gradually ease measures over April and May as case numbers receded. However, cases began to spike once more in late May, with little relent since.
The Kurdistan Region has recorded 32,998 coronavirus cases, including 20,923 recoveries and 1,231 deaths, since the outbreak began.
Among those confirmed to have tested positive for the virus on Monday was KRG finance minister Awat Sheikh Janab, who will be forced to sit out this week's Erbil delegation visit to Baghdad for budget talks, according to a KRG finance ministry statement.
Iraq's health ministry announced on Monday afternoon that 4,314 new cases had been recorded in the country in 24 hours, as well as 4,299 recoveries and 77 deaths.
Duhok saw the third highest province daily case numbers in the whole of Iraq, after Baghdad and Najaf.
The World Health Organisation's head of mission in Iraq warned on Monday that a second wave of coronavirus would hit Iraq by October and November of this year.
All that can be done to protect against the second wave is "to take health measures seriously," Iraqi state media quoted WHO representative Adham Rashad Ismail as saying.
Iraq has recorded 264,864 coronavirus cases, including 202,829 recoveries and 7,589 deaths, since the outbreak began.
Updated at 8:22 pm