Erbil province's coronavirus crisis cell has revised lockdown measures to allow industrial areas in the north and south of the capital city to open, two days before a Kurdistan Region-wide lockdown is set to end.

Their re-opening is subject to some time and documentation constraints, the Erbil Province Operations Room said on Saturday.

"Both north and south industrial areas will be allowed to open from 8 am to 2 pm," read a statement from the Operations Room. "Mechanics and their assistants are allowed to go to work from 7 am to 8 am, and return home from 2 pm to 3 pm."

According to the lockdown revisions, "customers and mechanics working at both industrial areas should carry work permits" to be able to conduct business.

Some businesses beyond the two industrial areas will have to wait for a decision on whether they will be able to resume business until April 21, when the Operations Room is set to meet to "make a decision about taxis, trade affairs and places which remain closed and are located within the Erbil 30 Meter ring road."

Tyre repair and oil change services outside the industrial areas were allowed to operate after April 16, when adjustments to a then month-long lockdown were made.

But frustrated mechanics offering services deemed non-essential and vendors in other trades staged protests in Erbil and Duhok earlier today, calling on the government to allow them to reopen their garages and shops after a month of closures.

The cell did not specify whether the lockdown revision was in response to today's protests.