More Countries Restrict Travelers from Iran over Coronavirus Fears

Iran

February 28th, 9:48am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Reporters wear face masks as a preventive measure during a news conference, after Pakistan confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus, in Karachi, Pakistan February 27, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Moscow on Friday announced new restrictions on travel to Russia from Iran and South Korea, two countries hit hardest by the outbreak of the new coronavirus. In a statement, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced a temporary suspension of visas for Iranians traveling to Russia for education, employment, tourism and transit. A separate decree imposed restrictions on travel to Russia from South Korea, with exceptions including members of official delegations. Moscow on Wednesday advised Russians against travel to Italy, Iran and South Korea, amid a spike in infections. Pakistan has also suspended all flights to Iran and closed land borders with its neighbor, officials confirmed on Friday, after Islamabad detected its first two coronavirus cases, both people who had recently traveled to Iran. Flights to and from China, the epicenter of the deadly outbreak, and Afghanistan, which also detected its first case this week, were still operating, however, and their land borders with Pakistan were also open. "The Aviation Division has decided to cease all direct flights between Pakistan and Iran," civil aviation authority spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar said. No Pakistani airlines were operating between the two countries, meaning the move hits three Iranian carriers -- Iran Air, Mahan Air and Taban Air. Lebanon also banned the entry of people coming from several coronavirus hotspots, including Iran, China, South Korea and Italy, except for Lebanese citizens and residents. Several countries have in the past week stopped flights to and from Iran or banned foreigners coming from Iran. The virus has now killed 2,856 people and infected more than 83,000 worldwide, with an increasing number of new cases being reported each day. New infections have slowed in China, which has nearly 2,800 deaths out of nearly 79,000 cases. However Iran has emerged as a new hotspot for the virus, with at least 26 deaths and more than 245 infections so far. There are growing fears in Pakistan -- sandwiched between China and Iran -- over how the country would deal with the outbreak.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2154046/more-countries-restrict-travelers-iran-over-coronavirus-fears