Coronavirus Updates

If anything, the novel coronavirus that emerged from the Wuhan region of China in December is becoming more alarming by the day. The death toll is rising, the number of countries with confirmed coronavirus cases continues to grow, as do the cases of the virus crossing borders between different states.

On Sunday, Iran reported 43 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The countries in the region reacted quickly to the alarming information, seeing Armenia, Turkey, and Pakistan closing their land borders with Iran. Turkey also halted incoming flights from the country.

Iran reported on February 24, that Covid-19 had killed 9 people there, the highest coronavirus death toll outside of China.

“If the situation gets any worse, city staff will be expected to convert to teleworkers,” said the Mayor of Tehran, Pirouz Hanachi.

Georgia’s neighboring country Armenia “closed the border with Iran for two weeks,” reads the Facebook post of the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Based on Article 16 of the Law on the State, the government had to make an extraordinary remote decision to stop communication with the Islamic Republic of Iran for two weeks,” he said.

“In particular, Iran-Armenia air traffic will be stopped and the Meghri border crossing to Armenia will be closed.

“Tomorrow morning, we will hold a meeting of the Committee against the Spread of Coronavirus, during which we will discuss further steps, possible scenarios and likely outcomes resulting from them,” reads the Facebook post of the Armenian Prime Minister.

On Sunday evening, the Georgian government, too, took measures. The state imposed restrictions on the movement of individuals from Iran to Georgia and vice versa in relation to the recent coronavirus outbreak. However, unlike the countries of Armenia, Turkey, and Pakistan, Georgia’s land border has been kept open for those incoming from Iran.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia explained that at this stage, airlines will not be allowed to carry passengers from Iran to Georgia, but that airlines will be able to enter Georgian airspace with empty planes and take Iranian tourists who are currently staying in Georgia back to their homeland.

“On the day he heard of the spread of coronavirus in the People's Republic of China and around the world, an inter-governmental group was set up by the Prime Minister of Georgia, coordinated by the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia," the ministry said. "The team monitors the current state of the virus 24/7, taking concrete steps to prevent the spread of the virus on the territory of Georgia and to maximally protect the population. To this aim, the Georgian government suspended direct air traffic with China at the initial stage of the virus outbreak.

"The Georgian government has also taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of Georgian citizens residing in China. The government is in constant contact with both the World Health Organization and the international community to obtain updated information on the scale of the virus.

"Currently, the highest prevalence of coronavirus, after China, was reported in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Government of Georgia is in constant contact with the Iranian authorities to obtain information on the situation in general and possible preventive measures. Reportedly, the Iranian government is taking all measures to prevent further growth of coronavirus cases, as well as screening passengers leaving Iran. However, given the current situation, the Georgian government has decided to restrict the movement of individuals from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Georgia and vice versa. The flows of passengers from Iran to Georgia will be stopped at this stage. Airlines will be able to enter Georgia with empty planes so that Iranian tourists can return home.

"At present, the land border will remain open for movement, though strict restrictions will be imposed and we will actively work with neighboring countries in this regard,” the ministry reported. “The Georgian government is monitoring developments and is continuing to work with neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the future, if the need arises, we will not exclude restriction of movement through the land border. The ministry calls on Georgian citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran in the near future and asks the citizens of Georgia who are currently visiting Iran to contact the Georgian Embassy in Tehran, if necessary, at +989122997726”.

Early on Monday, Kuwait, Bahrain and Afghanistan announced their first infections from the virus.

Kuwait reported three cases and Bahrain confirmed one, bringing the number of countries in the Middle East affected with the virus to seven.

Iraq has also sealed its border. The country shut its Safwan border crossing with Kuwait to travellers and trade at Kuwait's request. The information was reported by the local mayor to Reuters, without providing a reason.

During a news conference on the state TV channel on Monday morning, Iran's Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi said that 12 people had died and up to 61 had been infected with the new coronavirus. Earlier, an Iranian parliament member stated that at least 50 people had died in the country from the virus, but the Minister rebutted those claims.

Over the weekend, China’s rate of infections and fatality rose dramatically. On February 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the coronavirus outbreak has been the "largest public health emergency" since the founding of Communist China. The death toll on the mainland reached 2,442, and the confirmed cases of the infected 76,936. China had 150 new confirmed deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday, the National Health Commission announced. The new fatal cases pushed the death toll nationwide to 2,592 among 77,150 confirmed cases.

South Korea's confirmed cases of coronavirus infections reached 833, and the country has confirmed seven deaths.

Coronavirus cases are also appearing in Europe. So far, Italy has confirmed four deaths from the disease.

Al Jazeera writes that at least 152 cases have been reported in northern Italy, prompting emergency measures in Europe.

The Georgian Embassy to Italy published a statement, urging the country’s citizens in Italy to take safety measures.

While the disease spreads and travel restrictions are imposed, China continues to be the biggest victim of the Covid-2019. The country has even decided to postpone the annual meeting of its parliament due in March, the first such move since the Cultural Revolution.

By Nini Dakhundaridze & GT Team

Image source: France 24