Tajikistan suspends flights to Iran amid coronavirus fears

AKIPRESS.COM - Tajikistan has suspended flights to the Islamic Republic of Iran amid amid the coronavirus outbreak, the media report.
"We have ordered Iranian Varesh Airlines and Tajik national air carrier suspends flights between Tajikistan and Iran starting from February 24 until the coronavirus situation stabilizes in Iran," said the deputy director of the Civil Aviation Agency under the Government of Tajikistan Aziz Nabizoda.
According to him, many countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Armenia, Azerbaijan and some others, have suspended flight service to Iran as a protective measure against the coronavirus outbreak.
The Iranian air company Varesh Airlines, began operating flights from Tehran to Dushanbe and the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek in early February. Varesh Airlines' flights on this air route were operated once a week - on Mondays.
Tajikistan - Iran flights were previously resumed in early June 2019 after an almost annual suspension. On June 6, Varesh Airlines, Iran, made its first flight en route Mashhad - Dushanbe - Mashhad. Varesh Airlines' flights on this air route were operated once a week - on Thursdays.
Meanwhile, media reports say that Iran on Sunday confirmed 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, taking the total to 43 with a death toll of eight. It is the highest death toll outside of China. Most of the infections have reportedly been in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom.