Sulaimani's bookbinding trade hard-hit by COVID-19

SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Bookbinders in Sulaimani have seen business grind to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ako Ali has been working in the trade for 20 years. 

His main clients are government offices and schools, which were closed for most of the year to curb the spread of coronavirus. 

"Because of the virus, work has stopped in schools and government departments, and when they stop, we have less work," he told AP. 

"We work only when someone brings a torn book from home or when a school brings a worn registry book for fixing, and so we get by with that," he added. 

Ali charges customers 5,000 Iraqi dinars ($4) to bind an A4-size book. 

Despite the drop in business, he continues to bind books. 

"I haven't quit my job because there are some people who like handicraft products. They like them because a handcrafted product is sturdier and genuine."

Schools and universities in the Kurdistan Region are closed until 1 December due to a rise in coronavirus cases. 

The Kurdistan Region recorded 645 new cases of the virus on Tuesday, with more than 90,000 cases recorded since the pandemic began.