BEIRUT 

Lebanon decided Tuesday to restrict flights and stop religious travel with countries where the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is present.

It was decided to stop religious travel flights to countries where an outbreak has occurred, said Information Minister Manal Abdussamed in a news conference at the Baabda Presidential Palace in the capital, after the Cabinet met under the chairmanship of President Michel Aoun to assess measures to be taken against the novel virus.

She said flights will be restricted to countries that the virus is seen and precautions in airports will be increased.

Health Minister Hamad Hasan announced last week that the virus was detected in a passenger coming from the Qom, Iran.

The virus has sounded global alarm with China, where it was first detected, reporting 2,663 deaths from the outbreak and health experts grappling to find a cure.

Outside mainland China, the coronavirus has spread to more than 30 other countries including the U.S., U.K., Singapore, France, Russia, Spain, and India.

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international health emergency.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin