Statement by Interior Ministry regarding new COVID-19 regulations

The Kurdistan Region’s High Committee for Combating COVID-19 convened on Monday and issued the following directives as part of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic in the region:

• Relevant authorities will continue to enforce health measures set out by the Ministry of Health in government institutions, schools, universities, and public places which include mask-wearing and social distancing, with particular attention to shopping centers, markets, and public transportation.

• All religious, social, and educational events and gatherings remain prohibited.

• Relevant authorities will continue to raise awareness about health measures in government institutions, schools, universities, and public places.

• Restaurants and cafes are recommended to offer their services outdoors. In case there is no outdoor space, they should limit the number of guests inside, keep windows and doors open at all times, and place tables at a safe distance from each other.

• Wedding halls should limit the number of guests to prevent crowds: 500 square meter halls will be allowed to hold 60 people and 1,000 square meter halls will be allowed to hold 120 people. Any violation will lead to the hall being shut down.

• At-home and mosque funerals are strictly prohibited, as well as cemetery visits.

• Cafeterias, clubs, and gaming locales are recommended not to serve shisha and must close down between the hours of 12:00 am and 6:00 am.
• Cinema halls will remain closed across all cities and towns of the Kurdistan Region.

• The Kurdistan Region’s borders, in line with other Iraqi provinces, will be closed from Thursday 4 March to Saturday 6 March, except for the movement of government delegations, diplomats, coalition forces, and United Nations agencies and organizations.

• Trade with other Iraqi provinces will continue and closely follow health measures.

• The Ministers of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research have the authority to issue directives in cooperation with the Minister of Interior until the next committee meeting.

• The committee will next convene on March 10, 2021, to evaluate the health situation.

• This decree is to be enacted from the day it is released and shall be published in the Kurdistan Magazine.