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Iraqis buy masks in the capital Baghdad on February 14, 2021, after the Health Ministry announced that it will impose a fine on anyone caught without a mask starting next week. (Photo by Sabah ARAR / AFP)
Baghdad, Iraq –Iraq will re-impose partial lockdown measures until early March after detecting a new variant of the coronavirus, including among children, its Health Minister announced on Monday.
“Unfortunately, government labs showed genetic mutations in the Covid-19 strain, detecting the new rapid spread. [variant] in Iraq, ”Hassan al-Tamimi told reporters.
He referred to the variant as the “one that spread in the UK” and said it had been detected in some Iraqi children, but did not give a total number of people who had been diagnosed with the new variant.
It emerged in southern England in December and is believed to be more contagious than previous forms.
Iraq has been one of the countries hardest hit by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, in the Middle East with more than 640,000 reported cases and more than 13,000 deaths.
After peaking in September with around 5,000 new cases per day, Iraq saw a notable drop with around 800 new cases per day in December, but the numbers have been rising since then.
On Monday, Iraq announced more than 2,700 confirmed cases, a record since the beginning of the year.
Daily deaths have remained relatively low, with just six deaths confirmed on Monday, compared to a September peak of around 70 deaths per day.
The increase in cases led the authorities to reimpose a series of measures to combat the virus until March 8.
Masks will be mandatory in public places, with a fine of 25,000 Iraqi dinars ($ 17) for violators.
Starting Thursday, there will be a nightly curfew from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am, while Iraqis will be subject to full closures on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The measures will remain in effect during Pope Francis’ historic visit from March 5-8, which will include trips to Baghdad, the city of Mosul in the north, and a meeting with the country’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.
Iraqi officials told AFP on Monday that they were still proceeding with the visit as planned.
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