The governor of Erbil, Omed Khoshnaw, said its coronavirus taskforce will meet on Monday to discuss the recent increase in cases and issue new decisions. “We will reinstate measures for wearing masks for sure, masks should be mandatory,” he said.
“Unfortunately, according to the assessments we have, the situation is dangerous and is expected to get more dangerous,” Khoshnaw said, noting that “another wave is expected” and that the number of infections and deaths “will both increase.”
Khoshnaw said that protective measures have weakened among the public and the situation has been normalized, saying that although there will be no curfew or lockdown, “some activities can be limited.”
Iraq recorded more than 4,000 cases per day last month and the Kurdistan Region more than 1,000, though both saw infection rates slow after a third wave of the virus as the more contagious Delta variant spread.
The surge in infection rates that started in July contributed to an increased demand for vaccines, especially Pfizer, which was initially only administered in central hospitals but is now more widely available.
Khosnaw said demand for vaccines has “slowed down,” adding that “one of the possibilities” for those at education centers and governmental offices “it might become the committee’s decision to make vaccines mandatory.”
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani last week urged people to get vaccinated as the autonomous region sees an increase in coronavirus infections.
Additional reporting: Hawar Jalaladin
