Coronavirus: Pakistan extends border closure with Afghanistan for seven days

Pakistan on Monday said it was extending the closure of its Chaman border with Afghanistan for seven more days amid the coronavirus outbreak in the neighbouring country.

Last week, the Pakistani authorities had announced to close the border with Afghanistan for one week starting March 2 to March 8.

The latest move comes amidst confirmation of four new cases of coronavirus in the Afghanistan.

“Three positive cases of coronavirus have been registered in western Herat province of Afghanistan,” Wahidullah Mayar, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health told Reuters, adding that of the 36 cases tested in Kabul, 33 had come back negative.

Herat borders neighbouring Iran, which is one of the countries worst affected by the coronavirus outside of China, with more than 4,000 cases and dozens of deaths.

Coronavirus outbreak: Trade activities resume at Pakistan-Iran border after 14 days

According to security officials, the border remained closed for an eighth day today, with all trade and migration suspended.

More than 15,000 people have undergone screening at the Chaman border, according to provincial health department.

At least seven positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Pakistan. Most of the confirmed cases have a travel history to Iran.

Trade activities resume at Pakistan-Iran border

Meanwhile, trade activities were resumed at the Pakistan-Iran border on Saturday after 14 days.

Pakistan had closed its border with Iran last month.

At least 190 people have been killed and more than 6,500 infected with the novel coronavirus including senior government functionaries.