Category: lockdown

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi chaired on Saturday a joint meeting of  the Higher Committee for Health and National Safety and the parliamentary Covid-19 crisis cell.

At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Iraq‘s health teams for being on the frontline during the current health emergency, and to Iraqi security forces for supporting Iraq‘s national effort to combat Covid-19.

The Prime Minister thanked Iraqi families for observing the curfew and complying with other restrictions during this very challenging period.

Following discussions, the joint meeting agreed a number of measures, including:

• Extending the nationwide curfew in Iraq until 06/06/2020. Grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies are exempt, provided that no more than five customers are allowed into such premises at any one time, and that both staff and customers wear face masks
• Restaurants to remain closed, but are allowed to offer home delivery service
• All ministries will remain closed during this period, except for the ministries of Health, Electricity, Agriculture and Water Resources, as well security ministries and municipality services
• The wearing of face masks in public remains compulsory, with fines for those who fail to comply
• Domestic flights remain suspended, as are flights to and from Iraq
• The security forces are directed to strictly enforce these measures in cities and towns, and within neighbourhoods

The joint meeting underscored the importance of all citizens continuing to follow official health advice and physical distancing guidelines, and to comply with the curfew to keep themselves, their families and communities safe.

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and National Safety held a meeting in Baghdad on Sunday via video conferencing under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi.

The Committee decided the following:

• From 21/04 until 22/05, the curfew hours will be between 7 PM and 6 AM Sunday-Thursday, and for 24 hours Friday- Saturday
• Current exemptions for certain business categories including bakeries and pharmacies, and key workers such as health teams and security forces, will be maintained
• Restrictions on public gatherings and social distancing rules remain in place
• Schools, universities, educational institution, sport venues, malls, wedding halls, mosques and places of worship will remain closed
• Restaurants and  cafes will remain closed, but will be permitted to provide delivery services
• Shops and factories can resume work but only outside curfew hours
• Government departments are permitted to resume working, but with minimum staffing which must not exceed 25% of the workforce
• Taxis can operate, but large public transport vehicles are only permitted to carry four passengers at any one time
• International travel in and out of Iraq remains suspended as is travel between Iraqi provinces
• The wearing of face masks outside the home becomes compulsory, and those who do not comply with the rule will face legal action

Supporting Iraq’s health workers

The Committee discussed measures to support Iraqi frontline health workers and agreed to:

• Make a monthly bonus payment to frontline health teams who are caring for Covid-19 patients
• Allocate, free of charge, a plot of land to all health workers who are caring for Covid-19 patients
• Request the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to prepare a draft law to double the period of service of frontline health staff during the current emergency for the purpose of calculating future pensions; the law will also seek to extend the retirement age for doctors

The Committee urged all Iraqis to continue to follow health instructions and guidelines, and to only leave home when it is absolutely necessary.

For the latest Covid-19 updates, please visit:   https://www.facebook.com/MOH.GOV.IQ/

(Source: Govt of Iraq)