Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pakistan Seals Borders, Shuts Schools, Bans Public Events Over Coronavirus

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - Pakistan moved Friday to temporarily seal borders with Iran
   and Afghanistan, close all educational institutions and ban large
   gatherings at public places for three weeks, including wedding parties,
   to prevent the coronavirus pandemic from spreading in the region.

   The preventative measures were announced on a day when officials raised
   to 28 the national tally of people infected with the virus. Pakistan,
   with a population of more than 200 million, has reported no fatalities
   since detecting its first confirmed case late last month.

   State Minister of Health Zafar Mirza said that all of Pakistan's cases
   were imported by its nationals returning from countries, including
   Iran, Syria, China and the United Kingdom. He said there were no local
   transmissions of the virus as of Friday.

   Syrian authorities, however, are reported to have denied the presence
   of coronavirus on their soil, saying dozens of suspected cases have
   tested negative.

.