Kurdistan Region extends travel ban between its provinces, and to Iraqi provinces

The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Interior on Monday decided to extend the travel ban between the provinces of the region, in addition to the travel ban with the rest of the Iraqi provinces until July 1, as part of special measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Interior on Monday decided to extend the travel ban between the provinces of the region, in addition to the travel ban with the rest of the Iraqi provinces until July 1, as part of special measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“In order to protect the health security of the Kurdistan Region, the Ministry issued a number of decisions, including a total curfew between the provinces of Erbil, Sulaimani, Duhok, Halabja, and the administrative unit of Rapareen, and Garmiyan, starting from 12 a.m. on the night of June 15, until 12 a.m. on the night of first of July,” the ministry said in a statement.

During the past 24 hours, the Kurdistan Region recorded 166 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases of the virus to 2,473 cases, with the authorities stating that daily infections are almost twice as high as at the beginning of the virus three months ago in the region.

The decisions also included preventing the system of electronic licenses – for transport between the provinces of the region – during that period except for cancer patients who need treatment and those patients in need of surgeries, provided they hold proof of treatment.

The decisions will allow people who were travelling in the past 24 hours before this statement to return to their province or the areas of their residence from which they came.

The statement also required citizens, governmental, and private employees, to wear masks and abide by prevention instructions, requiring drivers of all types of vehicles to adhere to wearing masks, warning violators with a fine of 50,000 dinars for each violation—and the driver is the one who pays the fine.

The statement clarified that the border-crossings of Perwezkhan, Bashmakh, Haji Omran, Ibrahim Khalil, Saraziri, Kelly, Tawila, Peshte, and Shushmi, including Erbil, and Sulaimani airports would remain closed to travellers, pointing out that the trade exchange would continue according to the previous instructions.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany