Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak In the Middle East -- News Updates March 6-7, 2020

Gulf News: Coronavirus in Middle East: 17 deaths, 1,234 new cases reported in Iran

Egypt reports 12 new cases, Palestine 7 cases and Iraq reports two deaths

Dubai: A total of 17 coronavirus patients has died in Iran on Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the Islamic Republic to 124, according to Sky News Arabia.

Iranian health authorities has also detected 1,234 new cases infected with Covid-19, which is a record number in the recent days, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 4,747, Kyanosh Jahanpur, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Health, said.

“The new cases were probably infected with the virus two weeks ago (from outside the country) and came back to Iran after they developed symptoms,” AFP reported quoting the official.

This comes at a time when the Iranian people are panicked by the government plans developed to deal with possible infections where 300,000 individuals, including Basij forces, are set to be deployed to conduct tests for people in their homes. This has raised fears of transmission.

Read more ....

Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak In the Middle East -- News Updates March 6-7, 2020

Friday prayers across Middle East overshadowed by coronavirus fears -- AFP
New Cases Of Coronavirus Reported In Iran, Egypt, As Middle East Steps Up Efforts Against The Outbreak -- Eurasia Review
Iran warns it could use ‘force’ to halt travel amid virus -- AP
ANOTHER senior Iranian official dies from coronavirus: Foreign minister adviser, who took part in 1979 US embassy hostage crisis, is regime's latest victim -- AFP
Coronavirus: Iranians lose trust in government as virus spreads -- DW
Coronavirus is sweeping through Iran, and the country is uniquely vulnerable to its spread -- ABC News Online
Coronavirus: Iran limits travel and urges banknote avoidance -- BBC
Iraq announces new steps against virus, cleric's sermon cancelled -- AFP
UAE discovers 15 new coronavirus cases: ministry of health -- Reuters
Coronavirus: Iraq reports first two confirmed deaths as fears rise -- BBC
Palestine declares state of emergency over coronavirus -- Al Jazeera
Israel confirms 21st case of coronavirus -- Ynet News
Coronavirus: Israel closes borders with Syria, Lebanon -- Anadolu Agency
Myths, lies and the coronavirus: How Middle East tensions are being stoked -- Marc Owen Jones, Middle East Eye
Coronavirus may hit the Middle East hardest – not least because its citizens don't trust their governments -- Ahmed Aboudouh, The Independent