Middle East worried as coronavirus keeps spreading in Iran

The coronavirus (now named Covid-19) has already spread to several cities in Iran, raising concerns across the Middle East, reports The Jerusalem Post.

According to Iranian authorities, the outbreak began in the holy city of Qom where pilgrims from all over the world come. Coronavirus has caused at least four deaths so far and has infected 18 others in the country.

Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries have reacted to the possibility that the virus could spread via pilgrims.

A seminary in Qom has already closed due to the outbreak. But a female pilgrim returning to Lebanon was confirmed as Lebanon's first case.

According to BBC report, a case in Canada is also linked to Iran.

Iranian officials were quoted in regional media saying that the virus has spread to "many Iranian cities," according to Saudi Arabia based news channel Al-Arabiya.

Coronavirus cases have been reported in Rasht, Arak, Tehran and other areas of the country.

Iranians have also expressed their concerns on social media because of the slow pace of official reaction, and the lack of clarity.

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"The situation is much worse than they say," one person tweeted, basing his information on his daughter who is a nurse.

According to Jerusalem Post's report, Iraq has put controls on travel to Iran. But the huge flow of goods and people between the two countries may make it difficult to maintain the ban.

Meanwhile, Kuwait is looking to prevent port traffic with the Islamic Republic and Bahrain and Oman are concerned that the virus spread will harm their economy.

Saudi Arabia is also concerned about pilgrims travelling to or from Iran. The UAE has already confirmed 11 cases of coronavirus, one of whom is a Bangladeshi national.

Turkey is subjecting all arrivals from Iran to medical checks and barring people with symptoms from entering the country, reports Turkey-based news agency Anadolu Agency quoting health official.

A conference in Jordan has been postponed with fear of spreading the virus.

While Egypt already has a case of coronavirus infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said the person confirmed to have the virus in Egypt is on his way to recovery and tests showed that he was "no longer carrying the virus".