UK
The newer, and reportedly more contagious strain of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in the UK, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock warning in December that it is “out of control”.
Due to concerns over the new strain, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough lockdowns and Tier 4 restrictions in London and south-East England for the next weeks—with any relaxation coming into effect before February 22. Residents are told to stay home, with exercise limited to once a day; non-essential shops were closed; and schools will be closed until mid-February.
Iraq
In a report by Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), Iraq is one of the countries in the Middle East that implemented restrictive measures due to concerns over the new strain of the virus. In a report by Xinhua News Agency, it introduced a travel ban to the UK, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, Japan, and any other country the Ministry of Health would recommend. Travelers from these countries have also been barred entry, except for Iraqi citizens who must be quarantined for 14 days or until a negative test result is produced.
Land border crossing, except for emergencies and trade exchange, were also shut, while operating hours in malls, dining areas, and public establishments were limited from 6 AM to 7 PM.
Turkey
Turkey has required all international travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test result, reported IANS.
Palestine
Palestine in December, according to a report by IANS, also imposed a full lockdown and curfew, in which all shops and restaurants were closed, except for pharmacies and bakeries.
Israel
The government of Israel on December 27 also imposed a national lockdown that lasted weeks, which included a ban on travelling more than 1,000 meters from home, except for individual exercise, special cases, and vaccination. It also prohibited staying in the residence of another person, closed down all businesses and recreational centers except for restaurant deliveries, and reduced office work capacity for those that do not receive the public by 50 percent.
This is a developing story
