Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency is reporting the nation’s civil aviation agency has banned all flights to and from India and Pakistan because of the dramatic surge in coronavirus cases within the two nations. IRNA says the decision was made by Iran’s Health Ministry and it takes effect Saturday at midnight.
Mohammad Hassan Zibakhsh, spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization noted there are no routine flights between Iran and India, and flights are operated occasionally. Several other nations in the area, including the sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait, also have banned flights to and from India over the rise in coronavirus cases there.
Zibakhsh said flights to and from 41 nations already were prohibited in Iran, whereas those who want to fly to other nations listed as high risk are required to have a coronavirus test in Iran. Travelers over 8 years old need to submit a negative PCR test within 96 hours of departure and do another test on arrival.
Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari stated 18,230 new confirmed cases over 24 hours, bringing Iran’s completion on Saturday to more than 2,377,000.
