Supreme Committee: Decisions regarding the epidemiological situation in Iraq

INA - BAGHDAD
 
The Supreme Committee for Health and Safety issued on Wednesday, decisions regarding the epidemiological situation in Iraq, while it decided to cancel the exception of pilgrims from the requirement to present the international vaccination card.
 
The Committee held on Wednesday, a meeting headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi where during of which, the developments of Corona pandemic in Iraq were discussed in light of the sharp increase of cases of the new mutation globally, and the health efforts envisaged to contain the new wave that Iraq is currently witnessing, according to the media office of the Prime Minister statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
 
The Ministry of Health confirmed, according to the statement, "Preparing hospitals and providing the necessary supplies such as beds, medicines, oxygen, and respirators in all health departments in the governorates in anticipation of any increase in the number of injuries and patients as work continues to examine suspected samples of the new mutant (Omicron),”
 
”The vaccination campaigns are ongoing in health institutions, government, private departments, institutions and universities, as well as field teams, under the supervision of specialized medical and health staff within the emergency support plan for vaccination with the available vaccines,” the statement included.

The statement added, "As for the vaccine situation in Iraq, the number of people vaccinated with a single dose has reached more than eight million citizens, and the ministry continues to give the third dose of the vaccine after a period of no less than six months after receiving the second dose,"
 
The meeting stressed the "necessity of continuing awareness campaigns for citizens regarding adherence to preventive guidelines, urging them to take the vaccine, and emphasizing the attribution of the Ministry of Health by all concerned authorities,"
 
After discussing the topics included in the meeting's agenda, the committee issued the following recommendations,
 
1- Requiring all arrivals to Iraq, both Iraqis and foreigners, to show the COVID-19 vaccine cards, (containing the IQ verification code), proving that the person has received at least two doses of one of the COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to a negative (PCR) test proving to be free of COVID-19, conducted within 72 hours before entering Iraq, excluding those who are unable to prove that for health reasons.
 
2- Taking into account reducing the chances of dealing with and contacting COVID-19 patients, in isolation halls, and taking the necessary preventive measures such as wearing masks, physical distancing, and constantly sterilizing hands.
 
3- The exception of pilgrims from the requirement to show the international card for vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine, is cancelled.
 
4- For the purpose of investing information technology and employing it in simplifying travel procedures, preventing fraud, and maintaining the credibility of information on international vaccination certificates, instructions were given to interconnection between the passport system and these certificates system, as well as establishing an intermediary to share data.
 
5- Obligating ministries, agencies not affiliated with a ministry, governorates, and all non-governmental institutions, to circulate the decisions of the Supreme Committee for National Health and Safety and the decisions of the Cabinet regarding measures to confront COVID-19 pandemic, to all their departments for the purpose of implementing them. The fact that most of the departments did not implement these procedures because they were not received through their ministries, with the need to follow up the vaccination position of all their employees, and not to tolerate in this regard the importance of vaccinations in protecting them and the auditors, as well as following up on the implementation of preventive measures in their departments, with placing banners and advertisements at the entrances to all departments by obligating the auditors to show the vaccination card when reviewing a particular department.
 
6- Emphasis on the national security units to follow up on the phenomenon of vaccine cards and forged international COVID-19 vaccination cards, and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
 
7- Emphasizing the Civil Aviation Authority to assist health personnel working in airports in the event of fraud in international vaccination cards or PCR examinations, and not allowing them to travel.
 
8- Amending paragraph (Second/1/e) of the decision of the Supreme Committee for National Health and Safety No. (22) of 2021, to make the visit period (14) days instead of (7) days, and allow the entry of tourist groups of Indian nationality.
 
9- Directing the Iraqi Media Network as ell as the Media and Communications Commission to carry out campaigns to educate citizens, and make every effort to urge them to adhere to preventive measures, and encourage them to take vaccinations from the nearest vaccination outlet.