Coronavirus outbreak: Activities at Taftan, Chaman borders remain suspended

Taftan: All activities at Taftan border with Iran and the Chaman border with Afghanistan remained suspended today amid fears of Coronavirus outbreak.

According to details, the Pakistan-Iran border has remained closed for twelfth straight day on Thursday as immigration and crossings from both sides remained halted following confirmation of five Coronavirus cases in the country.

The border will remain closed in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus on both sides of the boundary in the best interest of the people of the brotherly countries.

However, people who are returning from Iran are being kept in quarantine for proper screening and medical checkup.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have also offered to conduct screening, performing tests at suspected Coronavirus patients and keeping them under scrutiny before allowing them to travel to Pakistan.

On the other hand, the Chaman border has also remained closed on fourth consecutive day today.

According to a notification issued, “The Pak-Afghan border of Chaman would remain closed from March 2 due to the Coronavirus outbreak on both sides of the border in the best interest of the people of brotherly countries.”

The notification further said that during the period, necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the health of the people of both countries.

According to details, Pak-Afghan Transits Trade, NATO supplies and bilateral trade between both the countries remain suspended and only pilgrims have been allowed to cross the border.

The death toll in an outbreak of a new Coronavirus has reached more than 3,200 worldwide, the vast majority in mainland China and more than 95,000 people have been infected, causing a global alarm.

Governments across the world are stepping up efforts to contain infections as virus hits more countries.