Middle East countries ban UK travel over fears of mutant virus

Middle East countries ban UK travel over fears of mutant virus

RIYADH--With Britons already locked down for Christmas due to an “out of control” coronavirus strain, the sense of isolation deepened when a growing list of countries, including across the Middle East, imposed travel bans.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran and Israel are among the Middle East countries to announce flight bans over fears of the mutant virus.

Stricter measures were adopted by Saudi Arabia and Oman that halted international flights and closed their borders for a week over fears about the fast-spreading new strain of the coronavirus.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency said the kingdom may extend the suspension for another week depending on the nature of the virus's spread. Oman halted passenger traffic through its air, land and sea ports for a week starting Tuesday, but freight services are exempt from the ban.

Kuwait, too, has added Britain to a list of “high-risk” nations and banned flights.

Morocco, for its part, said it will suspend air travel with the UK starting Sunday night, also citing fears of the new coronavirus strain.

Morocco had allowed some flights to resume linking tourist hubs Agadir and Marrakech with London, in a bid to save its hard-hit tourism sector.

On Sunday, Morocco reported a total of