Iraq to declare state of emergency, impose curfew to limit coronavirus outbreak

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq is preparing to declare a state of emergency ‘soon’ after imposing a curfew in many provinces in an attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, a government source said on Sunday.

The plan comes after the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Interior on Friday announced a two-day-long curfew in Erbil and Sulaimani Provinces as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. Sunday afternoon, the ministry extended today the period for another 72 hours.

According to the latest data of Iraq’s Ministry of Health and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the country has reached 111, including ten deaths and 27 recovery cases.

In an interview on Saturday with Iraq’s al-Sharqiya TV channel, Iraq’s Health Minister Jaffar Allawi stated that his government might declare a state of emergency within 48 hours.

“The government is preparing to declare a state of emergency soon,” a government source confirmed to Kurdistan 24 on condition of anonymity.

Another source from Iraq’s Presidential Office also confirmed to Kurdistan 24 that President Barham Salih and caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi had sent a message to Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi “to request a declaration of a state of emergency.”

A state of emergency would last 30 days, and “it’s possible to extend it if necessary,” the source added.

Recently, the provinces of Kirkuk, Nineveh, Basra, Maysan, Wasit, Dhi Qar, Karbala, Salahuddin, and Babil (Babylon) announced a curfew, urging people to stay at home to combat coronavirus in their areas.

Editing by Kosar Nawzad