CAIRO – Several countries in the Middle East have imposed new restriction measures as concerns rise over a new strain of coronavirus. Meanwhile, Turkey’s total Covid-19 cases hit 2,118,255 on Friday.
Turkey on Friday reported 17,543 new Covid-19 cases and 256 new deaths, taking the death toll to 19,371, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
The country requires all international airway passengers flying to it to present a negative Covid-19 test result as of December 28.
All travellers coming from abroad should submit negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results carried out within the last 72 hours before boarding, Turkish authorities said.
The same will be applied for other international passengers arriving in Turkey by land and sea routes as of December 30. Those without tests would be put under quarantine at their addresses where they will reside in the country.
“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 said, noting that the new regulation will be effective until March 1, 2021.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey has been taking all the necessary measures for the New Year celebrations to prevent large gatherings to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters after the Friday prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan said security forces would not tolerate New Year’s Eve parties in hotels, villas, or any accommodation facilities.
“It is not possible that we would allow these,” Erdogan added, noting that the necessary operations would be conducted to restrain the spread of the coronavirus.
The Turkish leader also noted that the vaccination process in the country would be carried out with vaccines from China and Germany.
“When the vaccines arrive, we will be vaccinated with all our colleagues,” Erdogan said, calling on all citizens to act on that matter.
The Iraqi Health Ministry reported on Friday 1,140 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 589,943.
The ministry also reported 11 new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,755, and 1,531 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 528,872.
Iraqi authorities have imposed new restrictive measures to protect the Iraqi people from a new strain of coronavirus that is characterised by faster transmission.
Authorities have decided to ban travel to Britain, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, Japan, and any other country the Iraqi Health Ministry would recommend.
Authorities 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, the authorities decided to suspend the ground border crossings, except for emergencies and trade exchange, and to close malls, restaurants, and other public facilities from 7pm to 6am for two weeks starting December 24.
Palestine recorded on Friday 1,812 new Covid-19 cases and 21 new deaths in the Palestinian territories, bringing the total cases to 147,234 and the death toll to 1,385.
Palestine imposed a full lockdown and curfew on Thursday night, which will remain effective until Sunday morning. All shops and restaurants are closed, except for pharmacies and bakeries.
Iran announced on Friday 6,021 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, raising the tally to 1,189,203 in the country so far.
Of the newly infected, 906 had to be hospitalised, said the spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari at her daily briefing.
The pandemic has so far claimed 54,440 lives in Iran, after 132 new deaths from the virus were registered between Thursday and Friday, according to Sadat Lari.
Meanwhile, 933,736 Covid-19 patients have recovered or been released from Iranian hospitals as of Friday, while 5,345 others are still in critical condition, she added. – Bernama, December 26, 2020
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