Several districts in Baghdad were put under full lockdown on Wednesday after Iraqi authorities warned that the health system cannot handle a rise in coronavirus cases.
The implementation of the new measures came after the country recorded a spike in coronavirus infections since restrictions were recently relaxed.
Iraq has recorded 3,724 infected cases and 134 fatalities since the outbreak began earlier this year. Baghdad reported 113 new cases and 3 deaths on Wednesday.
"The lockdown will start on Wednesday morning, it will be implemented on areas with the highest number of infected cases," Health Minister Hasan Al Timimi said on Tuesday night.
The areas include Sadr City, Habiba, Kamaliya, Hurriya and Al Amiriya.
"The decision was taken due to the rise in the number of coronavirus infections in Baghdad," Mr Al Timimi said.
The lockdown will last for two weeks, the minister said.
“We anticipate that this will have a significant impact on stopping the spreading of the virus,” he said, adding that the lockdown includes a ban of movement between the districts and the closure of some shops.
The newly nominated health minister said the increase in number of coronavirus cases is starting to put pressure on the country’s health system.
“That system is not ready to handle such pressure,” he said.
With a healthcare system depleted by years of conflict and corruption, officials across the country have warned that they are not equipped to deal with a full-blown crisis.
Mr Al Timimi urged the public to follow the anti-coronavirus measures set by the government, such as social distancing and wearing masks when necessary.
“Noncompliance to the health directives may result in unimaginable consequences,” he said in a statement.
Since the outbreak of the virus Iraqi authorities closed the borders with neighbouring Iran, which has seen the world's deadliest outbreak, and banned the entry of foreign nationals travelling from there and other badly affected countries.
Schools, universities, cinemas and other public spaces were immediately closed.
The government said on Monday that it will reimpose a full curfew on vehicles and pedestrians during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, starting from Sunday for one week.
Since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, Iraq partially lifted its curfew, which is currently set between 5pm and 5am local time.
Earlier this week authorities in Baghdad placed imposed a curfew on the country’s chickens, after discovering one that was infected with bird flu, north of Baghdad.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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