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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Erbil provincial authorities announced on Saturday they are easing some coronavirus lockdown measures, allowing shops to stay open until midnight, though the number of cases continues to rise.
Beginning on Sunday, shops, markets and restaurants may extend their opening hours, but must close their doors from midnight until 5:00 am. Under previous rules, all businesses except pharmacies had to close by 8:00 pm. Pharmacies have no restrictions on their hours.
Government offices will open with reduced staff and limited hours, from 9:00 am to 1:00pm, Sunday through Wednesday. This does not include the health department, police, Asayesh or security apparatus, and service departments.
There are no restrictions on traffic but travel between provinces will remain banned until further notice.
Mosques, churches and all holy sites and shrines are to remain closed. Funeral wakes are also prohibited. Other public places will also remain closed: public and private parks, cinemas, party halls, nightclubs, bars, shisha venues, gyms, swimming pools, massage centers, and public baths.
On Fridays, traditional bazaars, bird markets, and car exhibitions - popular weekend spots - will be completely closed.
These measures will be in place until July 19.
Erbil has seen a total of 2,288 COVID-19 cases, 710 of which remain active. Forty-nine people have died in the province after contracting the virus.
Sulaimani has been the Kurdistan Region province worst-hit by the pandemic, recording over two-thirds of the Region's total cases and 259 deaths.
Across the Kurdistan Region, a total of 9,201 cases have been confirmed and 312 people have died. Iraq has recorded more than 75,000 infections and 3,055 deaths.
Beginning on Sunday, shops, markets and restaurants may extend their opening hours, but must close their doors from midnight until 5:00 am. Under previous rules, all businesses except pharmacies had to close by 8:00 pm. Pharmacies have no restrictions on their hours.
Government offices will open with reduced staff and limited hours, from 9:00 am to 1:00pm, Sunday through Wednesday. This does not include the health department, police, Asayesh or security apparatus, and service departments.
There are no restrictions on traffic but travel between provinces will remain banned until further notice.
Mosques, churches and all holy sites and shrines are to remain closed. Funeral wakes are also prohibited. Other public places will also remain closed: public and private parks, cinemas, party halls, nightclubs, bars, shisha venues, gyms, swimming pools, massage centers, and public baths.
On Fridays, traditional bazaars, bird markets, and car exhibitions - popular weekend spots - will be completely closed.
These measures will be in place until July 19.
Erbil has seen a total of 2,288 COVID-19 cases, 710 of which remain active. Forty-nine people have died in the province after contracting the virus.
Sulaimani has been the Kurdistan Region province worst-hit by the pandemic, recording over two-thirds of the Region's total cases and 259 deaths.
Across the Kurdistan Region, a total of 9,201 cases have been confirmed and 312 people have died. Iraq has recorded more than 75,000 infections and 3,055 deaths.
Updated at 9:59 pm
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