Travel hub UAE to ‘halt’ flights
DUBAI, March 23, (Agencies): The United Arab Emirates, home to the world’s busiest international airport, announced early on Monday that it was suspending all passenger and transit flights for two weeks to stymie the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
The announcement came a day after the first cases were reported in the Gaza Strip and Syria, where years of conflict have severely degraded the local healthcare infrastructure. The new cases also raised fears about other vulnerable areas, like wartorn Libya and Yemen.
Dubai’s airport is a vital hub connecting Western nations with Asian countries and Australia, and suspending transit flights there affects travelers around the world.
The UAE’s emergency and crisis management body and its Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the decision to stop all commercial flights, including even transit flights, would take effect in 48 hours. The aviation authority said cargo and emergency evacuation flights would be exempt from the ban.
The UAE’s Ministry of Interior announced overnight that people should only leave their homes in their personal cars for work or necessities. It said further announcements would be made regarding rules for taxis and public transport, on which many foreign laborers and workers across the country rely. It warned that violators could face fines or imprisonment.
The UAE also announced that malls, shopping centers and restaurants will be closed for at least two weeks, though restaurants can still offer delivery service.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz signed an order Sunday to impose a partial 11-hour curfew for 21 days starting Monday evening, part of the Kingdom’s quest to stop spread of coronavirus.
The curfew, to start at 7:00 pm until 6:00 am every day, reflects King Salman’s keenness on wellbeing of Saudi citizens and expatriates, official SPA news agency reported.
The Ministry of Interior will make sure the curfew is implemented, stated the royal order.
People working in vital sectors – government and private – will be exempted from the curfew, said SPA, like servicemen, journalists, health and services workers.
The order urged the public to stay indoors and only leave their houses if necessary.
The number of newly discovered coronavirus cases reached 119, bringing the total number to 511, Saudi Arabia announced Sunday.
A statement by the Health Ministry said that two cases of the coronavirus recovered, bringing the total number to 18.
Authorities in Saudi urged citizens to avoid gatherings whether at their homes or public places in the efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Qatar
A number of 13 cases of the coronavirus were announced in Qatar Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 494, said
the Health Ministry.
The ministry revealed that most cases were connected to traveling abroad, adding that so far, six cases recovered from the globalspreading virus.
The number of those recovering from the coronavirus in Qatar has hit 33 individuals.
Bahrain
Chief of Bahrain’s Public Security Dept announced a decision to ban the gathering of more than five persons in an effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Stern measures await anybody who might breach this decision,” Lt-Gen Tareq Al-Hassan warned at a presser by the national taskforce on the pandemic late Sunday.
“All gatherings at public parks, resorts or beaches countrywide are also banned,” he said, noting that these preventive measures are meant to protect the public health.
The security institution in the Kingdom of Bahrain will continue the awareness campaign in several languages to educate the community on precautions and the safety regulations, Lt-Gen Al-Hassan pointed out.
He cautioned against disinformation, urging the public to rely on official sources for news.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Fa’eqa Al-Saleh affirmed that her ministry continues working with other competent state bodies to combat the pandemic.
“The ministry also coordinates with private hospitals to ensure provision of medications for citizens and expatriates as per the international standards,” she said.