Iran Coronavirus Cases Almost Double as WHO Readies Larger Team

(Bloomberg) -- Iran continued to report higher coronavirus cases and deaths as the World Health Organization prepared to send a larger team to the country. Emirates Group, which runs the world's biggest airline by international traffic, is encouraging staff to take leave as the outbreak saps demand for travel.

Iran, the epicenter of coronavirus in the Middle East, said the number of confirmed cases almost doubled to 978, with 54 deaths. In the capital Tehran alone, there were 170 new infections.

WHO Says Window to Contain Outbreak Is Narrowing: Virus Update

Mideast breakdown:

  • Iran: 978 cases, including 54 deaths
  • Kuwait: 46
  • Bahrain: 41
  • U.A.E.: 21
  • Iraq: 12
  • Lebanon: 7
  • Oman: 6
  • Israel: 5
  • Qatar: 1

Latest Developments:

  • The U.A.E. central bank set up a committee to assess the impact of the virus on the economy.
    • “Financial institutions are expected to implement measures such as re-scheduling of loans contracts, granting temporary deferrals on monthly loan payments, and reducing fees and commissions for affected customers.”
  • Nurseries in the U.A.E. will be closed for two weeks from Sunday.
  • Iraq's government suspended schools, universities and all educational institutes for a week to start until March 7.

    • Read more:

    Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus and here for maps and charts. For analysis of the impact from Bloomberg Economics, click here.

    --With assistance from Arsalan Shahla.

    To contact the reporter on this story: Farah Elbahrawy in Dubai at felbahrawy@bloomberg.net

    To contact the editors responsible for this story: Claudia Maedler at cmaedler@bloomberg.net, Shaji Mathew

    ©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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