国际英语资讯:WHO lauds Irans anti-coronavirus fight as death toll surges past 600_时事

国际英语资讯:WHO lauds Irans anti-coronavirus fight as death toll surges past 600

Oman on Saturday announced one-month suspension of all schools and universities starting Sunday amid concerns over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Jordan, which has only reported one COVID-19 case who has recovered, also decided to suspend all schools, universities and educational institutions for two weeks starting Sunday.

All flights from and to Jordan will be suspended from March 17 until further notice. All sea and land borders are closed except for commercial movement and shipping, while gatherings and large events, including prayers at mosques and churches, are also banned.

In Syria, one of the only two countries in the Middle East that are reportedly unaffected by COVID-19, President Bashar al-Assad ordered the postponement of the parliamentary elections from April 13 to May 20 to prevent the spread of the virus.

In Yemen, another country reportedly free of any COVID-19 case, the internationally-recognized government decided to suspend all flights to and from Yemeni airports for two weeks, starting Wednesday. The flights for humanitarian purposes and relief aid will be excluded from the ban.

The Yemeni government also ordered the temporary closure of the country's border crossings, with exception for the commercial, relief and humanitarian shipping traffic.

Meanwhile, the Houthi militia that controls northern Yemen announced the suspension of international flights for two weeks, while deciding to end the school year this month, ahead of schedule, in the cities under its control.