Iraq's Kurdish region issues arrest warrants over funeral linked to surge in COVID-19 cases
Two banned funeral services held in Erbil in March have led to at least 72 coronavirus infections.
Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government will prosecute the organizers of a prohibited funeral service that infected dozens of people with the coronavirus in the Kurdish region of Iraq, officials told a local news organization.
“Arrest warrants have been issued for five people who organized a mourning ceremony on March 21 which led to the infection" of a number of people with COVID-19, a spokesperson for Erbil's crisis task force told Rudaw.
Some of those wanted for arrest are themselves hospitalized with the virus, the Erbil-based news outlet reported. Their arrests will be delayed until they have recovered.
Despite a ban on funerals and other large gatherings, mourners gathered last month in Erbil's Karezan neighborhood for two separate services that infected at least 72 people, Health Minister Saman Barzanji said. On Sunday, the ministry announced 18 new cases in Erbil, each of whom came in contact with an infected person during one of the funerals.
