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DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman are closing their borders and suspending commercial flights for fear of a new strain of coronavirus, the three Persian Gulf states said.
Saudi Arabia closed its land and sea borders on Sunday and suspended international commercial flights for a renewable week, although foreign flights already in the country can leave, the Interior Ministry said.
The measures do not apply to the movement of goods from countries where the new COVID-19 strain has not appeared, said a ministry statement published on the state news agency SPA.
Neighboring Kuwait will suspend all commercial flights and close its land and sea borders from 11 p.m. Monday to January 1, the government communications office said. Cargo operations will continue, he added.
In Oman, land, air and sea borders will be closed for a week starting Tuesday, state television reported.
Several countries have cut travel ties with Britain after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that a highly infectious new strain of the virus was a danger to the country.
Information from Hesham Abdul Khalek and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo, Raya Jalabi in Dubai and Ahmed Hagagy in Kuwait; Written by Ghaida Ghantous; Edited by Angus MacSwan
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