Erbil’s Operations Room reveals details of partial curfew, suspension of government institution

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The governor of the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil province on Thursday revealed the decision to impose a partial curfew system, and to suspend government institution’s working hours for a week in the province, aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The deputy governor of Erbil, Hemin Qadir, told Kurdistan 24 that Erbil’s operations room had decided to completely ban vehicle movement and travel between Erbil province and the rest of the provinces until July 3.

“The complete curfew will be implemented on midnight Friday, June 26 in Erbil, in which no movement will be allowed from eight in the evening until five in the morning,” Qadir added.

He pointed out that the official working hours in all departments, directorates, and administrative units within the boundaries of Erbil province would be suspended until July 3 except for the ministries’ bureaus, the Presidency of the Judicial Council, independent bodies, and the health and security personnel, who will be working according to health instructions.

Qadir also said that markets and public places would be closed. Restaurants will remain open for delivery only, while grocery stores and bakeries will remain open from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. provided health measures are applied.

Qadir pointed out that each district’s administration will be given the authority, and the full power to implement the preventive measures, adding that these decisions will come into effect at midnight on June 27.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday reported 216 new coronavirus cases as well as four deaths.

Read More: COVID-19: KRG reports 216 new cases, gives local gov’ts authority to institute curfew, lockdown

As the number of infections continues to rise, the KRG gave authority to local governments to institute province-wide lockdown measures to curb the spread of the disease.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany