UAE plans special flights to take Iranian visitors home
The move follows the suspension of flights between the two countries for a week, subject to renewal, as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19
The UAE has announced it is coordinating with Iran to operate flights for the evacuation of Iranian visitors in the UAE to return to Iran.
The move follows the suspension of flights between the two countries for a week, subject to renewal, as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
State news agency WAM said authorities are working with Iran to facilitate the operation "to ensure the safety of visitors and those responsible for the evacuation operations".
The flight plans come as reports suggest at least 210 people may have died in Iran from the new coronavirus. According to BBC Persian, which cited unnamed sources, most of the people died in the capital Tehran and the holy city of Qom in central Iran. It prompted an angry denial from a health ministry spokesman.
Iran's official death toll stood at 34 on Friday afternoon, with eight new deaths reported over the previous 24 hours.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) earlier issued a decision to temporarily suspend travel using only the national identity cards of citizens of the UAE and other Gulf countries as cases of the new coronavirus soar.
The measure, which came into force at midnight on Friday, is being taken as part of a series of precautions to counter the outbreak of the new coronavirus as six new cases were reported in the UAE.
The move came as the UAE also announced the cancellation of the UAE Tour cycling race after two Italian staff tested positive for the virus.
The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention on Thursday said two coronavirus patients in the UAE had recovered while six new cases have been confirmed. The announcement brings to 19 the number of reported cases, five of whom have been cured.
The six new cases include four Iranians, one Chinese and one Bahraini, all of whom had come to the UAE from Iran ahead of the travel ban enforced recently.
Separately, the UAE's Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport has banned ferry services with Iran until further notice.
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