ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KGR) Health Minister Saman Barzinji told Kurdistan 24 on Monday that one of the differences spotted in the latest cases of the highly infectious coronavirus disease is an increase in symptomatic patients.

The Kurdistan Region witnessed a new spike in COVID-19 cases following a steady decline, which had paved the way for the relaxing of some of the previously imposed restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.

The recent spike in the numbers of infections is different than the previous COVID-19 cases in terms of the daily rate it is spreading, sources of infections, and symptoms shown, according to Health Minister Barzinji.

“A number of the infected patients are symptomatic when they visit the testing centers,” Barzinji noted, as previous cases were mostly asymptomatic.

“The sources of infections [for new cases] are unknown,” he added, as previous cases were due to exposures to infected individuals. He also noted the rate of transmission and recording of COVID-19 are “higher” than before.

On Sunday, the KRG Health Ministry announced 20 new cases of COVID-19 on the first day of Eid al-Fitr that increased the numbers of confirmed cases to 496.

Read More: Iraq reports 197 new COVID-19 cases; 20 in Kurdistan

“Another spike of the virus was expected,” Barzinji said. “What we did not expect was the occurrence of the spike at this warm temperature.”

“Epidemiologically, the virus’s life cycle was not finished,” he added, explaining the expectations of the health authorities on the peak of the virus.

Barzinji announced in a press conference on Saturday that the latest uptick in COVID-19 cases is “an extension of the first wave” as he addressed the region.

“What is happening is the continuation and extension of the disease,” he added, citing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest report received by his ministry. “Gratefully, the current situation has not caused a major outbreak that would be out of our control.”