Iraqi minister of health announced identification of new variant of Covid-19 virus in a press conference on Monday.
The ministry has tested several suspects and the cases proved to be holders of the Covid-19 variant, registered fall of 2020 in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The minister has confirmed recently registered cases included children. “The ministry has provided all requirements to face the pandemic.” He confirmed that test procedure and treatment protocol remain the same.
The high committee for national health and safety has decided to implement full curfew on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and night curfew from 8 pm to 5 am effective Feb. 18 to March 8 due to spike in Covid- 19 cases.
Iraq has registered about 643,852 cases and 13,179 deaths since February 2020 up to Saturday, Iraqi ministry of health data shows. Daily cases in Iraq have surged from 1.000 cases a day in January to more than double on February 13, pushing the government to take tougher security and health measures.
Schools will be shut up to March 4th as they used to attend classrooms once a day. Alternatively, schools will offer away learning. The closure is renewable in case the figures keep soaring, the statement by the committee added.
As the new variant is spreading faster, the minster called for following health rules and regulations and tighter precautions.
“The curfew is health wise and staying home reduces damages,” the minister added. “Health mobile teams will supervise the situation and impose penalties on violators.”
“The curfew is health wise and staying home reduces damages,” the minister added. “Health mobile teams will supervise the situation and impose penalties on violators.”
Ordinary life has been resumed in Iraq since last April as authorities eased restrictions except closure of schools. Pupils attend classrooms once a day and schools offer away learning.
The new restrictions include intercity travel ban, compulsory masking in and social distancing in the public. All mosques and worship houses will be closed except during prayer times. Funerals, parties and social gatherings are banned. The penalty for violation of social gathering is 5M Iraqi Dinars ($3,500). The shutdown covers malls, cafes, gyms, swimming pools, and cinemas.
People were skipping health precautions as authorities eased restrictions amid public belief that herd immunity have been acquired. Others believe it is the quietness before the storm in reference to the new variant of Covid-19 which is ramping all over the world.
Early February, Iraqi Minister of health called on the public to use masks and keep social distancing. He called for tough financial penalties on shops, malls, restaurants and cafes up to closure when health warnings to fight the pandemic disregarded. He asked for more awareness and educating campaigns about Covid-19 pandemic.
