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Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Iran Announce Partial Easing of Coronavirus
Restrictions

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - A number of Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Lebanon,
   Iran and Tunisia have announced the reopening of parts of their
   economies in the wake of lengthy coronavirus closures. At the same
   time, Algeria has decided to reorder the closure of some businesses due
   to unsafe gatherings.

   Amid strong pressure from Egypt's important tourism sector, Tourism
   Minister Khaled al Anani told Arab media late Sunday that the country
   would gradually reopen hotels in key regions to domestic tourism,
   before eventually reopening to international tourism.

   He says that hotels will be allowed to reopen up to 25% of their normal
   capacity as of May 15th, once they fill out applications to do so and
   agree to comply with World Health Organization regulations concerning
   laundry, beach areas, restaurants, and employees.Anani went on to say
   that domestic air traffic would also resume between certain cities in
   the near future, and that there have been discussions with certain
   countries about eventually resuming international flights to Egypt. He
   added that every other seat on domestic flights would be left empty.

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