The Minister of Health in the Kurdistan Region, Saman Barzanji, called on the region's residents to adhere to the Coronavirus preventive measures to avoid the increase in the number of cases, especially after the new strain of the virus appeared in Erbil.

He said in a statement that the number of cases is surging, stressing that suspected cases of the new strain have been confirmed.

Barzanji urged the citizens to, "take care of your children and protect yourselves by wearing masks and social distancing.