UAE bans travel to Iran and Thailand

dubai — Following heightened concerns about the rapid spread of the new coronavirus or COVID-19, the UAE has banned its citizens from travelling to Iran and Thailand where new outbreaks have been reported.

UAE’S Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on Monday detailing a travel ban to the two countries.

“In light of the UAE’s efforts to monitor and contain the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, and in the interest of general public

safety and health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has issued a travel ban, calling on all UAE citizens to not travel to Iran and Thailand at present and up until further notice,” read the statement.

UAE citizens currently in these countries are requested to contact the UAE Embassy or the ministry’s call centre on 800 44444, and register on the ministry’s Tawajudi service. The ministry also issued a set of guidelines on Monday towards the care and treatment of suspected COVID-19 cases.

Now, patients who have returned from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, Japan, Singapore and Italy presented with upper or lower respiratory symptoms will need to be placed in isolation. Earlier, only patients with a travel history to China were tested for COVID-19.

A circular issued by the ministry, a copy of which

Khaleej Times has studied, states all individuals who have come in contact with an individual or animal strongly suspected to have COVID-19 within 28 days also need to be placed in isolation.