SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s ministry of education said on Thursday schools would remain closed in the Kurdistan Region until further notice.
The ministry said private and public schools would remain closed until the Supreme Committee to Combat Coronavirus meets to make a decision about the closure.
“Only exams will be done. We will continue to [abide by] the protective measures,” the ministry said in a statement.
Health minister Saman Barzinji announced new restrictions on March 30, closing schools and universities until April 10. Only grade 12 students and others taking exams attend in-person classes.
Kurdish health officials have warned that the Kurdistan Region is facing a “dangerous phase” of the coronavirus pandemic, urging people to follow the health guidelines designed to curb the virus spread.
The Kurdistan Region recorded its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections on Wednesday with 1,217 new cases, taking its total so far to 128,264 including 3,756 deaths.
On Wednesday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Supreme Committee to Combat Coronavirus announced a partial lockdown as part of measures to curb the virus outbreak.
The partial lockdown includes banning pedestrian and vehicle movement across the Kurdistan Region, starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday until April 12.
The KRG imposed a ban on travel between the Region and other Iraqi provinces on Monday, as part of measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
On March 31, the KRG committee also closed all religious sites, including mosques, churches and temples.
The ministry of interior also announced new restrictions on March 30.
Under the new restrictions, schools and universities remain closed until April 10, according to the ministry. Restaurants, cafeterias, clubs, game centers and other public places would be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day.
