SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday called on the international community to help it in providing coronavirus vaccines to the Region’s citizens.
The KRG Council of Ministers held a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday to discuss the current situation in the Region.
Health Minister Saman Barzinji read a report about the health situation and a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Region during the meeting, a KRG statement read.
The council of ministers called on the international community to “help the Kurdistan Region in the provision of vaccines for the Region’s citizens,” the statement said.
COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly in the Kurdistan Region. Kurdish officials call on the Region’s citizens to follow health guidelines and receive vaccines in an effort to curb spread of the virus.
The Kurdistan Region has recorded 3,468 new cases and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours, according to official figures from the Iraqi health ministry.
The Region’s total number of infections rose to 224,283, including 4,740 deaths, according to figures released by the health ministry.
To curb the virus spread in the Region, the KRG supreme committee to confront coronavirus made a number of decisions during a meeting on Tuesday.
The committee said employees at religious sites, trade centers, malls, restaurants and cafeterias should get vaccines or have a 72-hour coronavirus test.
“The place will be closed if no one is committed to it,” KRG spokesman Jotiar Adil said in a press conference.
Public servants should also receive coronavirus vaccines and wear face masks during working, he noted.
“No tourists will be allowed to enter the Kurdistan Region if they aren’t vaccinated or do not have a coronavirus test,” Adil said.
“Any tourist company that has fake coronavirus tests will be added to black list and won’t be allowed to enter the Kurdistan Region.”
The committee also decided to impose the mandatory use of face masks in government’s institutions and in public and tourist places, Adil further said.
Cinemas and halls of wedding party, including in hotels, will remain closed, he added.
Adil also said the committee will meet again on August 3 to evaluate the situation following the decisions.
