Across the Middle East, efforts to stop the coronavirus were shaking up daily life, with countries restricting travel,postponing elections and even shutting down large parts of society.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced wide-reaching measures yesterday evening, shortly after the country reported a jump of 50 cases within 24 hours, reaching 193 in total.
All recreational activities will stopped from Sunday, Netanyahu said, and all schools, universities and kindergartens will be closed. He added that essential services like banks would, however, stay open.
Syria said yesterday that it is postponing its parliamentary elections by one month, to May 20, as part of precautionary measures taken in light of the coronavirus outbreak, while other Arab countries also took more precautionary measures.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree delaying the vote, which was set for April 13, official Sana news agency reported. While the Syrian government has not reported any coronavirus cases, the precautionary measures are designed to prevent a possible spread of the virus.
The country decided on Friday to close all educational institutions for three weeks. The last parliamentary elections were held on April 13, 2016. The Syrian parliament is made of 250 lawmakers, who are usually elected for a four-year term.
In Egypt, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi ordered the closure of schools and universities for two weeks as of today as part of the state’s comprehensive plan to deal with coronavirus repercussions.
In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia yesterday reported 17 new cases of the virus, raising the total number to 103.
The oil-rich kingdom said it would suspend all international flights for two weeks as countries across the Gulf step up precautions against the spread of the coronavirus. Elsewhere in the Gulf region, more infections have been reported, prompting further measures.
Kuwait’s Health Ministry meanwhile confirmed four more cases, bringing the overall tally in the oil-rich emirate to 104.
Oman said it would shut down all educational institutions for a month beginning today as a precaution against the spread of the virus.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the capital, Abu Dhabi, announced temporary closures of all main tourist and cultural sites due to public health concerns.
Sudan has ordered the closure of schools and universities for one month from yesterday to stop the spread of coronavirus, a statement from the prime minister’s office said, Reuters reported.
MOROCCO SUSPENDS
FLIGHTS TO 25 NATIONS
Morocco has suspended flights to and from another 25 countries over coronavirus fears, the foreign ministry said yesterday, extending an earlier travel ban that covered China, Spain, Italy, France and Algeria.
Other countries with which air travel is now suspended are Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chad, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Senegal, Switzerland, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and the UAE.
The total number of coronavirus cases in Morocco has risen to 17, one of which was locally transmitted.
JORDAN SUSPENDS
ALL FLIGHTS
Jordan said yesterday it would halt flights, close its land borders and shut down schools, places of worship and public gatherings to stop the spread of novel coronavirus.
Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz told official news agency Petra that “all flights into and out of the kingdom will be suspended from Tuesday until further notice”.
Expatriates wait for mandatory coronavirus testing in a makeshift testing centre in Mishref, Kuwait, yesterday.
