Armenia has decided to suspend all air and road traffic to Iran for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to Armenia.

Iran, according to The Guardian, has reported 43 cases of  Covid-19 which has killed eight people. No cases of the virus have been reported in Armenia as yet.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a Facebook post today, wrote the following.  

Dear Compatriots,

Based on Article 16 of the Law on State Border of the Republic of Armenia, which deals with the temporary cessation of communication across the state in the event of the spread of infectious diseases, the government will make an extraordinary decision to suspend communication with the Islamic Republic of Iran for two weeks.

Iran-Armenia air communication and the entry of people through the Meghri border crossing to Armenia will be suspended.

I would also like to inform you that tomorrow morning a session of the Coronavirus Prevention Commission will be held, during which we will discuss our further steps, possible scenarios and measures to be taken. This commission, by the way, has been operating since January 31.

In any case, I find it necessary to stress that there is no reason to spread panic. Such actions are in any case harmful,” wrote Pashinyan.