UPDATES WITH BORDER CROSSINGS CLOSURE
By Abdelraouf Arnaout and Mustafa Deveci
JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel's Health Ministry reported eight new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing total infections in the country to 58.
A number of people were diagnosed with the virus after recently returning from Azerbaijan, Germany and Switzerland.
Others were infected after coming into contact with individuals who tested positive for the virus.
Israel announced the closure of the Allenby crossing, or King Hussein Bridge, because of the virus. The bridge links the occupied West Bank and Jordan.
Earlier Tuesday, Jordan announced the closure of the King Hussein Bridge with Palestine, as part of a series of decisions to prevent an outbreak of the virus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday mandatory quarantine for arrivals for 14 days.
The global death toll from the virus has surpassed 4,000, with nearly 114,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The virus originated in China but has reached more than 100 countries, with the WHO saying Monday the “threat of a pandemic has become very real.”
As part of efforts to contain the outbreak, some governments closed borders and suspended land and air travel with the worst-hit countries.
* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat and Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara.
