23 Mar 2020 | 10:22 AM UTC

Iraq: Nationwide lockdown implemented March 22 /update 15

Iraqi authorities implement nationwide lockdown and extend travel limitations in Baghdad to March 28; follow authority directives

TIMEFRAME expected from 3/23/2020, 12:00 AM until 4/18/2020, 11:59 PM (Asia/Baghdad). COUNTRY/REGION Iraq

Read all related news alert(s):

26 Sep 10:59 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities lift nationwide curfew from September 26 /update 52

25 Sep 12:53 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities suspend flights with Iran until October 8 /update 51

08 Sep 05:28 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions September 8 /update 50

04 Sep 05:21 PM UTC —

Iraq: Over 250,000 COVID-19 cases reported as of September 4 /update 49

13 Aug 12:10 AM UTC —

Iraq: Officials in Iraqi Kurdistan announce highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases on August 11 /update 48

09 Aug 10:18 AM UTC —

Iraq: COVID-19 curfew extended nationwide until August 15 /update 47

04 Aug 02:46 PM UTC —

Iraq: Kurdish Authorities close border with Turkey on August 4 due to COVID-19 /update 46

30 Jul 02:19 AM UTC —

Iraq: Passengers traveling from Erbil and Sulaimani airports to undergo COVID-19 tests prior to travel from August 1 /update 45

26 Jul 03:09 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities announce total lockdown for Eid Al-Adha holiday until August 9 /update 44

25 Jul 06:56 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities report highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases on July 25 /update 43

20 Jul 12:37 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities announce easing of nationwide curfew and re-opening of airports July 16 /update 42

16 Jul 11:13 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities extend commercial flight suspension until July 22 /update 41

11 Jul 11:34 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities reopen Mandali (Diyala province) border crossing with Iran July 11 /update 40

06 Jul 02:12 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities ease COVID-19 restrictions in Erbil province on July 4 /update 39

03 Jul 04:30 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities extend flight ban until July 15 /update 38

30 Jun 05:17 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities to impose total lockdown in Erbil province from June 30 /update 37

25 Jun 10:31 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities announce extension of flight suspension until July 1 /update 36

24 Jun 05:13 PM UTC —

Iraq: Provinces introduce comprehensive curfews on June 23 /update 35

09 Jun 01:20 AM UTC —

Iraq: Government extends suspension of commercial flights until June 13 /update 34

07 Jun 04:46 AM UTC —

Iraq: Government extends nationwide curfew until June 13 /update 33

01 Jun 09:22 AM UTC —

Iraq: Government imposes nationwide curfew until June 6 /update 32

01 Jun 09:02 AM UTC —

Iraq: KRG imposes region-wide lockdown until June 6 /update 31

22 May 09:24 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities extend suspension of air traffic until May 31 /update 30

13 May 10:19 AM UTC —

Iraq: Domestic and travel restrictions modified May 11-12 /update 29

11 May 12:22 PM UTC —

Iraq: Nationwide curfew hours modified May 11 /update 28

04 May 12:40 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities impose full lockdown on Kirkuk province May 4-9 /update 27

30 Apr 09:43 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities extend nationwide curfew hours April 28 /update 26

27 Apr 06:27 PM UTC —

Iraq: Security forces wound at least seven anti-government protesters in Al-Rifai (Dhi Qar province) April 27 /update 25

25 Apr 01:02 PM UTC —

Iraq: Commercial flight suspension extended until May 22 /update 24

22 Apr 05:32 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities announce Ramadan-specific easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures April 21 /update 23

18 Apr 11:12 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities announce the implementation of partial curfew from April 23 /update 22

17 Apr 05:30 AM UTC —

Iraq: Nationwide curfew extended until April 23 /update 21

08 Apr 09:38 AM UTC —

Iraq: Nationwide restrictions extended through April 18 /update 20

03 Apr 12:16 PM UTC —

Iraq: Local officials claim high number of unreported COVID-19 cases April 2 /update 19

01 Apr 09:54 AM UTC —

Iraq: Nationwide curfew extended until April 19 /update 18

30 Mar 09:37 AM UTC —

Iraq: Kurdish Regional Government extends restrictions through April 16 /update 17

27 Mar 01:02 PM UTC —

Iraq: Nationwide lockdown extended to April 11 /update 16

19 Mar 10:33 AM UTC —

Iraq: Lockdown extended in Kurdistan Region March 18 /update 14

16 Mar 10:57 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities implement further measures due to COVID-19 from March 17 /update 13

12 Mar 11:04 AM UTC —

Iraq: Officials cancel Friday prayers and Nowruz festivities March 11 /update 12

11 Mar 08:58 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities ban public gatherings, religious centers March 9 /update 11

09 Mar 08:58 PM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities order closure of Najaf province over COVID-19 outbreak March 11 /update 10

09 Mar 11:50 AM UTC —

Iraq: Six COVID-19-related deaths reported on March 8 /update 9

06 Mar 07:49 PM UTC —

Iraq: Government extends entry restrictions to France and Spain March 6 /update 8

05 Mar 09:46 AM UTC —

Iraq: Government confirms two COVID-19 deaths March 4 /update 7

29 Feb 08:21 AM UTC —

Iraq: COVID-19-related business disruptions and movement restrictions February 29 /update 6

27 Feb 05:14 AM UTC —

Iraq: Government bans public gatherings and extends travel restrictions to nine countries February 26 /update 5

26 Feb 10:28 AM UTC —

Iraq: Officials extend entry restrictions for travelers from five countries February 25 /update 4

25 Feb 08:25 AM UTC —

Iraq: Officials in Najaf confirm first coronavirus case February 24 /update 3

24 Feb 06:26 AM UTC —

Iraq: Authorities extend ban on travel to and from Iran amid COVID-19 outbreak February 23 /update 2

20 Feb 10:02 PM UTC —

Iraq: Border crossings with Iran temporarily closed amid COVID-19 outbreak February 20 /update 1

18 Feb 08:57 PM UTC —

Iraq: Government bans entry of travelers from China as of February 2 amid COVID-19 outbreak

Event

On Sunday, March 22, Iraqi authorities announced a nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), until Saturday, March 28. While many provinces established curfews, the decision applies to the entire country. The country's airports are closed, as are schools, universities, religious sites, and other gathering places.

In Baghdad, a travel ban prohibiting any travel into or out of the city, first implemented on Tuesday, March 17, will be extended until 23:00 (local time) on March 28. It is unclear whether exceptions will be made.

As of Monday, March 23, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iraq has risen to 233 with 20 fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled the outbreak as pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly, and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone non-essential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

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