Middle East countries continue to take precautionary measures as coronavirus cases rise

A view shows a deserted road in Kuwait city during the 20-day nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on May 11, 2020. (File/AFP)
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Updated 13 May 2020
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Middle East countries continue to take precautionary measures as coronavirus cases rise

DUBAI: Countries in the Middle East have continued to take precautionary measures to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the region as the number of cases continued to increase.

In Kuwait, people were urged to follow the curfew and abide by the health authority’s instructions as the decision is expected to help reduce the number of coronavirus infections in the country.

Saudi Arabia prohibited movement in some parts of the country to help control the coronavirus spread, while in Jordan, the government announced that vehicle movement would be banned on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr which runs from May 23 to May 25.

Tuesday (GMT time)

18:10 - People in Dubai are taking advantage of an ease in coronavirus restrictions by hitting the emirate's malls, as these photos show...

17:40 - France says its COVID-19 death toll in hospitals and nursing homes has hit 26,991 and has now overtaken Spain to become fourth-highest death toll behind US, UK and Italy.

16:17 - Italy death toll from #coronavirus outbreak rises by 172 to 30,911, total number of confirmed cases rises by 1,402 to 221,21.

15:19 - Fauci warns of 'serious problems' if states reopen too soon 

14:16 -  Lebanon on Tuesday ordered a four-day-long lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

13:33 - Kuwait obliges citizens and residents to wear masks in public spaces.

13:10 - Qatar's Health Ministry: 1,526 new cases of coronavirus brings total to 25,148.

13:08 - Egyptian Supreme Judicial Council: Courts return to work from Saturday.

12:45 - Saudi Health Ministry: 1,911 new cases of coronavirus, reports nine new deaths.

12:30 - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says he is hospitalized with the coronavirus.

10:52 - Algeria will extend measures aimed at restricting movement by 15 days until May 29 to cope with rising cases of infections with the novel coronaviru. 

10:35 - Virus-hit Iran will reopen its mosques for three nights over the next week so that worshippers can pray during Laylat Al-Qadr, a minister said Tuesday.
The country shut its mosques and shrines in March as part of its efforts to contain the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

09:41 - UAE has confirmed 783 new coronavirus cases, 631 new recoveries and two fatalities.

07:59 - The Spanish government ordered a two-week quarantine for all travelers coming into the country from May 15 in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus after one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns helped slow down the epidemic in Spain.

Incoming travelers will have to remain quarantined and will only be allowed to exit for grocery shopping, go to health centers and in case of “situation of need,” an official order said.

07:42 – Oman has confirmed 148 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of people infected to 3,721.

 


Morocco’s energy ministry puts gas pipeline project on hold

Updated 03 February 2026
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Morocco’s energy ministry puts gas pipeline project on hold

  • The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around ‌1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates

RABAT: Morocco’s energy ministry said on Monday it has paused a tender launched last month ​for a gas pipeline project, without giving details on the reasons for the suspension.
The tender sought bids to build a pipeline linking a future gas terminal at the Nador West Med port ‌on the Mediterranean ‌to an existing ‌pipeline ⁠that ​allows ‌Morocco to import LNG through Spanish terminals and supply two power plants.
It also covered a section that would connect the existing pipeline to industrial zones on the Atlantic in ⁠Mohammedia and Kenitra.
“Due to new parameters and assumptions ‌related to this project... the ‍ministry of ‍energy transition and sustainable development is ‍postponing the receipt of applications and the opening of bids received as of today,” the ministry said in a statement.
Morocco ​is looking to expand its use of natural gas to diversify ⁠away from coal as it also accelerates its renewable energy plan, which aims for renewables to account for 52 percent of installed capacity by 2030, up from 45 percent now.
The country’s natural gas demand is expected to rise to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027 from around ‌1 bcm currently, according to ministry estimates.