Turkey has suspended all trains and flights and sealed its border with Iran, where there are already at least 12 deaths from the coronavirus. Iraq and Pakistan have taken similar measures against COVID-19.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Sunday that the Turkish government had decided to completely close the Iranian border and suspend all connections by train and plane to the neighboring country, as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus that has caused already at least 12 dead in Iran and about 2,500 worldwide.
“The number of coronavirus patients has reached 82,000 in 32 countries. So far we have managed to keep the epidemic out of our country; but its spread in our neighboring Iran has increased our alarm,” the minister said in a press conference, indicating that there were 43 confirmed cases in Iran and 8 deaths from the virus. On Monday, however, the official death toll in that country had risen to 12, and some sources speak of more than 50 deaths in the city of Qom alone.
“All flights from Iran have been temporarily and unilaterally suspended after 8:00 p.m. (Sunday). All our border crossings have also been closed,” said Koca, who reiterated that before taking this measures, Turkey was already subjecting to scanners with thermal cameras to all people coming from Iran, and prohibiting the passage of any person presenting symptoms.
“Yesterday (Saturday) and the day before, eight Iranian citizens were denied entry because they showed cold-like symptoms,” said the minister, who also took the opportunity to confirm that five people who also had similar symptoms in the eastern province of Van had tested negative for the presence of the dreaded virus.
“The virus is possibly already in all the cities of Iran”
Iran became the third country in the Middle East last Wednesday – after the Arab Emirates and Egypt – to register confirmed cases of COVID-19, and although the outbreak was initially located in the holy city of Qom – about 150 km south Tehran – in recent days it has spread rapidly to several other cities, including the capital of the country, to which the parliamentary elections held on Friday have probably contributed.
“Based on existing reports, the spread of the coronavirus began in Qom and, taking into account the travels of people (infected), it has now reached several cities in the country, including Tehran, Babol, Arak, Isfahan, Rasht and other cities, and it may be in all the cities of Iran,” a health official on Friday told Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Iranian authorities have now closed schools in 10 provinces of the country for two days starting on Sunday, while the University of Tehran also suspended its classes and closed its dormitories, offering its students to return to their homes and continue the classes on Internet. Iranian travelers infected with the coronavirus have been detected in Lebanon and Canada.
Iraq and Pakistan also take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
Not only Turkey, but also Iraq and Pakistan – which share a border with Iran – have begun to take precautionary measures to prevent the virus from entering their territories. Iraq has banned the entry of any Iranian citizen into the country, which will have an impact on thousands of Shiite pilgrims and businessmen.
In recent days Turkey had already taken measures on its border with Iran, especially in the eastern province of Van, a popular destination for Iranian tourists, where on Thursday thermal cameras were installed at the Kapıköy border crossing and officials received orders to wear protective suits; in addition, entry to any Iranian who has been in the last 14 days in Qom, the focus of the coronavirus outbreak in that country, was prohibited.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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