M-E nations tighten curbs due to new Covid-19 strain

Cairo, Dec 26 : Many countries across the Middle East have tightened restrictive measure in due to concerns over a new strain of the novel coronavirus.
Authorities in Iraq have imposed new restrictive measures, including a travel ban to the UK, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, Japan, and any other country the Ministry of Health would recommend, reports Xinhua news agency.
The authorities have also banned the entry of travellers from these countries, except for Iraqi citizens who must be quarantined for 14 days until a PCR test proves they are not infected with the virus.
Moreover, land border crossings have been shut, except for emergencies and trade exchange, while malls, restaurants, and other public facilities will remain closed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., for two weeks.
Turkey has made it mandatory for all international travellers coming into the country by air, land and sea to present a negative Covid-19 test result starting from next week.
“The new measures were needed for arrivals from abroad due to the increase in the number of cases across the world and the acceleration of the pandemic,” Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Friday, adding that the new regulation will be effective until March 1, 2021.