Qatar bans arrivals from Bangladesh, 13 other countries over coronavirus fears

A passenger wearing a facemask as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, waits to board his plane at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on 8 March, 2020.
Photo: AFP

Qatar has temporarily barred travellers from 14 countries from 9 March including Bangladesh as a precaution against the rapidly spreading coronavirus, the government announced on Sunday.

The ban covers China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand.

Qatar Airways had already suspended flights to and from Italy.

Qatar reported three more cases of the virus on Sunday, bringing the total there to 15.