Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak In The Middle East -- March 09, 2020

Risk of outbreak is especially high in Syria's northwest, where three million people are trapped in shrinking rebel bastion (AFP)

NBC: Stopping coronavirus spread in Syrian refugee camps is 'mission impossible,' Turkish ambassador says

Turkey's U.S. ambassador also said the E.U. must help his country absorb Syrian refugees after Ankara said it won't stop refugees from crossing into Europe.

WASHINGTON — Turkey's ambassador to the United States, Serdar Kilic, says the European Union must do more to help his country absorb an influx of refugees from the war in neighboring Syria after Ankara said it would not stop refugees from leaving Turkey to enter E.U. territory.

Kilic also said his country had taken steps to bolster security on its border with Iran to counter the threat of the coronavirus but that trying to prevent the spread of the virus in refugee camps in Syria would be a "mission impossible."

"We have reached the limits of our capabilities" to accept refugees, Kilic told reporters. "We told them, if you want to leave Turkey, you are free to do so. We have been hosting those people around eight years in Turkey."

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Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak In The Middle East -- March 09, 2020

Coronavirus: Aid groups move to block outbreak in Syria rebel pocket -- Middle East Eye
Middle East takes more precautions as world tackles coronavirus -- Arab News
Coronavirus: Iran reports leap in death toll -- BBC
Iran announces 43 new coronavirus deaths, raising toll to 237 -- AFP
Iran Releases 70,000 Prisoners To Prevent Virus Spread; Infected UK Dual National Still Confined -- Zero Hedge
Coronavirus in Iran: A case of misinformation, conspiracy theories and propaganda -- DW
Iran's Khamenei cancels Persian new year speech due to virus: office -- AFP
Iraq confirms 7th coronavirus death --
Anadolu Agency
Lebanon: Coronavirus cases rise to 41 in biggest one-day jump -- Daily Star
Jordan restricts use of West Bank crossing amid coronavirus fears -- Times of Israel
Saudi health ministry announces five new coronavirus cases -- Arab News
Saudi seals off Shiite region, halts travel over coronavirus -- AFP
Qatar announces closure of schools, universities over coronavirus -- Al Jazeera
Israel PM announces two-week quarantine for all arrivals -- AFP
Coronavirus: Israel to bring in 14-day quarantine for all arrivals -- BBC
The Middle East is coping with the coronavirus by disinfecting mosques and canceling Muslim prayers -- Business Insider