Shafaq News / Sulaymaniyah Province is studying, the cancelation of the lockdown measures imposed throughout the region, following protests and opposition by local businesses owners.

Corona Virus Crisis cell in Sulaimaniyah told Shafaq News that it is currently studying the cancelation of the curfew and reopening shops in the province, without giving further details.

Dozens of local business owners protested in Sulaimaniyah on Tuesday, to ease the curfew measures imposed by the authorities in the region, which expires on 6^th of current month, as part of a step to contain the high numbers of infections registered with Corona virus.

“More than 50 people of shop owners protested on Mulwi Street near the governorate building to demand opening of their stores,” Salar Sarrawi, a member of Corona Virus Crisis Cell, told Shafaq News Agency.

He added that the existing security forces are taking strict measures and preventing filming, without giving further details

While Rania district in Sulaymaniyah governorate witnessed today, opening its markets and roaming of its residents despite the strict curfew measures implemented by the authorities in the region to prevent Corona virus.

After the curfew decision announced by the Ministry of Interior, shop owners demonstrated opposing it, as markets and some stores have been opened today , Hussein Mahmoud, District’s administration  manager, told Shafaq News Agency.

"We have informed the owners of open shops that they will bear the consequences, but at the same time he stressed that there is no tendency to punish them,” he added.

"We are waiting for the governors and supervisors meeting of Garmiyan and Raparin departments - independent departments within the region - which is now being held in Erbil,” Mahmoud said.

KRG's interior ministry had imposed a 6-day lockdown on Monday, after the confirmation of over 100 cases of corona across Kurdistan Region, which is the highest rate in one day ever recorded.

KRG statement noted that all non-emergency travel is prohibited, exempt for media, medical staffs and security forces.

Kurdistan Region has recorded 745 cases of the virus, 423 recoveries and 8 deaths till now, while Sulaimaniyah has the biggest rate of the virus outbreak, with 229 of Kurdistan Region’s 302 active cases located in the province.