Dubai airport suspends all flights with Iran

DUBAI (AA) – Dubai International Airport on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Iran, except the capital Tehran, over fears of coronavirus.

Airport authorities said in a statement the flight suspension will remain in place until further notice.

The statement said arrivals via direct flights from Tehran will be subjected to temperature checks.

The move came after Bahrain said it will suspend all flights from Dubai and Sharjah airports for 48 hours after a person suspected of contracting coronavirus arrived in the country from Iran via Dubai.

Iran has reported 14 deaths from the virus

Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, has sounded global alarm with China reporting 2,663 deaths from the outbreak and health experts grappling to find a cure.

Outside mainland China, the coronavirus has spread to more than 25 other countries including the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain and India.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara