Iraq extends partial curfew amid uptick in new COVID-19 cases

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s top committee to combat the spread of COVID-19 announced on Wednesday new regulations, including a countrywide partial curfew between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m for a week.

The restrictions will be in effect throughout Iraq excluding the Kurdistan Region, where the regional government sets its own measures.

The decision came during a meeting of the High Committee for Health and National Safety with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, a government statement said.

The officials reportedly discussed "the seriousness of the current epidemiological situation" and "the significant rise" in COVID-19 infections over the past three weeks.

Kadhimi and members of the committee stressed the importance of vaccines and for media organizations to broadcast government-sponsored programs communicating the benefits of the immunization campaign.

Iraq residents can book vaccine appointments electronically throughout the country.

The committee extended giving local governments the authority to set the official public sector working hours, provided that it is no less than 50 percent of normal working hours.

Spaces for large indoor gatherings will remain closed, according to the government statement.

It also highlighted that unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Iraq if their countries demand Iraqis vaccination proof for visa applications.

Iraq on Wednesday reported 8,777 new coronavirus infections and 37 deaths due to complications related to the disease in the past 24 hours. There have been a total of about 1.4 million COVID-19 cases, including 17,400 fatalities in the country.