BAGHDAD: Iraq is reopening its land border crossings, restaurants and hotels and bringing back sporting events without spectators, the prime minister said on Monday, three days after it recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus infections.
Land crossings would be open for trade only so as to secure local market needs, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said in a statement. Restaurants and five-star hotels must adhere to public health guidelines, he added.
Sporting events would resume as of 12 September. Government agencies can now bring back to work up to 50 per cent of their employees, he said.
Coronavirus infections
Iraq registered its biggest daily increase in coronavirus infections on Friday with 5,036 cases as Iraqis continue to flout lockdown rules, the health ministry said.
It recorded 4,314 new cases on Monday and 77 deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 264,684 and 7,589 total deaths.
Al Kadhimi said the electoral commission would be allowed to open voter registration centres and that its employees would be exempt from curfew.