Arab Countries in the Region Concerned About Coronavirus Transmission from Iran

As the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Iran increases, Persian Gulf countries have reported rising cases of the disease in their own nations and have identified travelers from Iran as the source of transmission.

French news agency AFP reported on the spread of the new coronavirus in Iran and the concerns of Arab countries and Iran’s neighbors about the risk of virus transmission through travelers arriving from Iran. Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates have reported multiple cases of coronavirus patients in their countries.

Kuwait reported on Tuesday that eight new cases of COVID-19 were identified. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health stated that three of them had come from Iran and are now in quarantine. Iraq’s Ministry of Health also reported that four members of a family contracted the coronavirus after their relative recently returned from Iran to Iraq. All family members have been placed in quarantine.

Another case of coronavirus infection was identified in southern Iraq. The French news agency referred to the close political and economic relations between Iran and Iraq, noting that despite these ties, Iraq has closed its borders to Iran.

The situation in Bahrain is more critical. There, 17 cases of coronavirus have been identified, with most of them having traveled from Iran to Bahrain. Oman has currently reported two confirmed coronavirus cases. The World Health Organization reported 13 coronavirus patients in the United Arab Emirates. Some of these countries attempted to prevent the disease from spreading from Iran to their territories by reducing passenger traffic between the two countries. Some of these countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have suspended their flights to Iran temporarily.

Turkey closed its borders to Iranian travelers two days ago to prevent the disease from spreading in Turkey. All 132 passengers on a flight arriving in Turkey from Tehran on that day were placed in quarantine. It was reported that 17 coronavirus patients were among the passengers on this flight that departed from Tehran and landed in Ankara.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced Tuesday afternoon that coronavirus tests for passengers who had arrived from Iran and were under quarantine came back negative and none of them were infected with the virus.

The French news agency cited statistics released by official sources in Iran, reporting 15 deaths from the disease and 95 confirmed cases, stating that these patients are scattered across various cities in Iran.