New Coronavirus threatens both rich, poor across Mideast

new Coronavirus continued its spread across some of most-vulnerable nations of Mideast on Tuesday as International Monetary Fund warned that a lack of medical supplies in Iraq, Sudan and Yemen could lead to a surge in prices.

re are some 30,000 confirmed cases of virus across Mideast, vast majority in hard-hit nation of Iran. While most recover from virus and COVID-19 illness that it causes, bottoming crude oil prices have put additional strain on even wealthiest countries of region.

IMF, which traditionally has urged governments to implement greater austerity measures, w urges Mideast governments to offer temporary tax relief and cash transfers.

“Given large numbers of people employed in service sector, re will be wide reverberations if unemployment rises and ws and remittances fall,” IMF’s director for Middle East, Jihad Azour, said in statement.

In Egypt, tourist cancellations have reached 80%, while retail and hospitality sectors have also been hard-hit in countries like United Arab Emirates where tourism is a pillar of ecomy, according to IMF.

arrival of global pandemic in Syria with one positive case, as well as in Gaza Strip, has raised concerns virus could run rampant in some of most vulnerable areas in Middle East. War-torn Libya and Yemen, which have yet to report any cases, are also a source of concern.

worst outbreak in Mideast is unfolding in Iran, where authorities reported ar 127 deaths on Monday, bringing total number of fatalities to more than 1,800 amid more than 23,000 confirmed cases. dead included mor-in-law of son of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state-run IRNA news ncy said.

Lines have formed outside grocery stores, banks and gas stations across Syrian capital, Damascus, as people braced for wider closures. government has already closed restaurants, cafes and or businesses, and has halted public transportation.

In Egypt’s Mediterranean city of Alexandria, dozens of people early Tuesday prayed to God for help against virus. Online video showed people praying from ir windows and balconies. Ors showed some three dozen people marching in a side street and chanting: “re is God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger,” drawing criticism from people who said demonstrators should have stayed at home.