<span style="color: #222222;">The United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority  (GCAA) has announced the suspension of all flights arriving to and departing from Iran, effective immediately as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the Novel Corona virus.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">        </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to the GCAA, all passenger and cargo aircraft traveling to and from Iran will be suspended for a period of one week and could be up for extension.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">        </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The decision is a precautionary measure undertaken by the UAE to ensure strict monitoring and prevention of the spread of the Novel Corona virus, COVID-19, the Authority announced. A statement issued by Dubai Airports said, all passengers arriving on direct flights from Tehran will receive thermal screening at the airport by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and its Airport Medical Centre team.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">        </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Iranian Minister Iraj Harirchi, who appeared unwell at a Press conference a day ago, posted a video on social media yesterday acknowledging he has caught the virus. Another prominent politician, Mahmoud Sadeghi, also posted on Twitter that he has also contracted the virus. Tehran has reported a total of 95 cases and 15 deaths so far, most of them in the northern city of Qom.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">        </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has also banned UAE citizens from traveling to Iran and Thailand. The UAE has also put in place stricter controls at the airports with separate thermal screenings for people arriving from China and other infected countries. Other Middle East nations like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman have also suspended flights and imposed travel restrictions to Iran.</span><br />