ERBIL - The Erbil Operations Room on Wednesday announced a number of new measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the region, as the pandemic situation is deteriorating with mutant COVID-19 infections already confirmed.

The room announced the new measures following a session led by Erbil's new Governor Omed Khoshnaw that was also attended by the head of Erbil Governorate Council, Ali Rashid.

According to a statement by the room, wearing masks by the citizens is obligatory, including at all government institutions, religious sites, and schools which were opened two weeks ago.

The same measures also affect drivers and passengers of taxis, public buses, and private vehicles.

National ceremonies will be commemorated but without public gatherings, the statement said, noting that the same mechanism will be followed for sport activities.

Nightclubs and liquor stores will be closed after midnight.

Halls of wedding parties, nighttime parties, funerals, and all other similar gatherings are banned.

The new measures, said to go into effect on February 24, at 11:59 pm, came in response to an increase in the daily number of coronavirus infections in the Kurdistan Region.

BasNews