Iraqi government re-imposes partial lockdown in Najaf and major cities after detecting a new strain of the pandemic.

Luay al-Yassiry, gGovernor of Najaf announced total lockdown in the major province for a week from Thursday February 17.

 
Reduction of working hours in state organizations, closure of holy shrines, forbidding wedding and funeral ceremonies, closure of schools, telecommuting for state workers are among the decisions made by the crisis management teams.

 
Holy shrine of Imam Ali (AS) and the Great Mosque of Kufa will stand open under health protections between the hours announced by the guardian of the holy sites.

 
The new lockdown was imposed after Iraqi Minister of Health, Hassan al-Tamimi, announced the new cases of infection in the capital Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala.

 
According to the new restriction shopping malls, cafes and restaurants will remain close for two weeks and all sport activities will be suspended until the second notice.