Peshmerga forces at a checkpoint in Erbil on March 23, 2020. Photo: Bilind T.Abdullah/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A ban on travel between provinces in the Kurdistan Region will remain in place until June 16, according to the latest order issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday.
In case of emergencies, individuals can request permission to travel from the Interior Ministry at moi.gov.krd.
All citizens and military personnel elsewhere in Iraq who wish to return to the Kurdistan Region must undergo COVID-19 tests and be placed in quarantine for a period of not less than 48 hours.
All border crossings and airports remain closed to tourists, and no one is allowed to return to the Kurdistan Region without the consent of the Interior Minister.
Although a total lockdown has been lifted across the Region, authorities have urged the public to maintain social distancing.
"Citizens need to adhere to safety precautions, and the distance between citizens should not be less than 1.5 meters. All customers and shop owners should use masks in shops and service centers," the statement added.
Bus and taxi drivers must also ensure all passengers wear masks, or face a fine of 50,000 dinars.
The KRG’s Ministry of Health recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 in Sulaimani province on Wednesday, including eight men, six women, and two teenagers.
The total number of COVID-19 cases across the Kurdistan Region now stands at 523, of which 407 have recovered and five have died. The Region as a whole has 111 active cases.
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