Saudi Arabia               

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 132,048
• Recoveries: 87,890
• Deaths: 1,011

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 14 June: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority launches Tabaud app to alert people if they have been in contact with Covid-19 patients.
• 13 June: Ministry of Health launches campaign to ensure Saudi residents maintain social distancing.
• 12 June: Reports emerge that Saudi Arabia is mulling the cancellation of the Hajj pilgrimage for the first time since the country's formation in 1932.
• 11 June: Seventy-seven mosques to open in Al-Jouf region to ensure social distancing and help to avoid crowding. 
• 10 June: Recently opened mobile lab has completed 6,000 Covid-19 tests in Madinah to date.
• 8 June: Saudi Arabia takes delivery of 14 million face masks flown into King Abdul Aziz International Airport at Jeddah from Guangzhou, China. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority will ensure the products comply with safety standards before distributing them to health authorities. 
• 5 June: Interior ministry places 15-day curfew in Jeddah from 3pm to 6am from 6 June. Mosques closed again and government and private sector employees in the city barred from working in offices. Gatherings of more than five people are prohibited, but domestic flights and train journeys will continue to operate and people can enter and exit the city outside of the curfew.
• 2 June: Precautionary measures and guidelines introduced for more sectors, including factories, mining, internal aviation, intercity buses, car rental vehicles, ferries at Jizan and Farasan Islands, tourist accommodation facilities, postal and logistics services and farms.
• 31 May: Interior ministry revises regulations on gatherings and penalties. Preventive protocols introduced for mosques, offices, oil and gas facilities, construction sites and offices and restaurants, among other sectors.
• 30 May: Saudi Arabia could return to extreme precautionary restrictions if the number of Covid-19 patients exceeds the medical sector’s capacity, Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told Al-Arabiya. “Public awareness and adherence to precautionary measures is essential to continue the ease of restrictions," he added.

 Measures to minimise the economic crisis:   

• 8 June: Job fund Hadaf says it deposited SR379m in the bank accounts of 253,000 beneficiaries in May.
• 7 June: Temporary hospital opened at Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Centre comprising 20 beds, with a capacity of 500 beds. Thirty-one clinics for individuals with Covid-19 symptoms also opened in Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Al-Qassim and Al-Ahsa.
• 2 June: Mobile laboratory to conduct Covid-19 tests launched in Medina. It has a daily capacity of 10,000 tests and is manned by 84 medical professionals.
• 1 June: Al-Ula tourism site to reopen in October. Saudi Shoura Council approves draft system for the Tourism Development Fund. 
• 31 May: Business activity and domestic flights resume, and 90,000 mosques reopen with precautions in all provinces except Makkah.
• 26 May: Saudi Arabia starts to lift restrictions, with three-phased programme to bring the nationwide curfew to an end on 21 June, except in Mecca. Mosques authorised to reopen with restrictions, but Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages remain suspended.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 42,636
• Recoveries: 28,129
• Deaths: 291

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 15 June: Abu Dhabi extends movement ban for one week from 16 June. 
• 10 June: Two Covid-19 screening clinics launched in Al-Ain.  
• 8 June: Abu Dhabi extends movement ban by one week. Sharjah government tests employees for Covid-19 before their return to offices. 
• 5 June: National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority issues safety and hygiene advisories for hotel establishments prior to their reopening.
• 31 May: Movement prevented to and from Abu Dhabi as well as transit within its regions for one week from 2 June. Dubai introduces new guidelines for mask usage outdoors.
• 30 May: National Disinfection Programme timings amended to 10pm-6am in all emirates except Dubai. 
• 20 May: Disinfection to begin two hours earlier in industrial areas. 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis:   

• 15 June: Travel to certain destinations will be permitted for citizens and residents from 23 June. Sharjah Private Education Authority reviews schooling options for next academic year. 
• 14 June: UAE Cabinet approves bonuses for vital emergency workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
• 13 June: Initiative launched to facilitate the return of around 200,000 expatriate residents to the UAE.
• 10 June: UAE Central Bank expects recovery of economic activity in H2 2020. The bank says its Targeted Economic Support Scheme and economic stimulus packages announced by both local and federal governments will weigh in positively on the purchasing managers' index, real estate prices, employment and credit growth.
• 8 June: Residency law violators permitted to leave the UAE without paying penalties. Cabinet to exempt Hajj- and Umrah-related businesses from licence renewal fees from March to December 2020, and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments will extend the validity of expired licences until this period.
• 7 June: Al-Razeen Complex with capacity for 9,984 patients opens near Al-Raha in Abu Dhabi to quarantine patients.
• 6 June: Dubai Future Foundation develops ventilator prototype to support local and global healthcare efforts.
• 3 June: Transit flights will be resumed at Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah international airports and be operated by local carriers Etihad, Emirates, Flydubai and Air Arabia. Passenger flights remain suspended until further notice.
• 2 June: Shopping malls and private businesses permitted to operate at full capacity from today.
• 1 June: Ras Al-Khaimah outlines requirements to reopen restaurants, cafés and gyms from 3 June. 
• 31 May: Abu Dhabi raises mall capacity and the capicity of restaurants within malls to 40 per cent. Hotel beaches, restaurants outside malls and museums also allowed to reopen with a capacity of 40 per cent, but public beaches remain closed.
• 30 May: More business activities resume in Sharjah and Ajman and Dubai Culture reveals plan to reopen museums on 1 June. 
• 28 May: UAE Government announces 30 per cent of federal ministry employees will work from offices starting 31 May, with exemptions to be made for high-risk individuals.
• 27 May: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, says 50 per cent of Dubai Government employees to return to work from 31 May, with all Dubai government employees to return from 14 June.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 19,013
• Recoveries: 13,267
• Deaths: 46

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 3 June: Plans to resume Friday prayers this week postponed.
• 1 June: Edamah temporarily closes Bilaj Aljazayer beach after non-compliance noted during Eid al-Fitr holidays.
• 1 June: Health measures for outdoor training activities issued for registered professional athletes. The club or federation must prepare a timetable for pre-booked training sessions and no walk-ins will be allowed. Face masks are mandatory and social distancing is to be followed.
• 19 May: Lower Criminal Court fines owner of a commercial outlet BD1,000 for flouting health regulations that include measuring the temperature of customers and workers before entering the outlet, directing customers to stand 1 metre apart, cleaning and sterilising trolleys before and after use and ensuring workers wear protective gloves. The court has also fined four defendants BD1,000 each for beaching the home quarantine rules imposed on them. 

Measures to minimise the economic crisis:  

• 15 June: Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance to review studies and initiatives submitted by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bahraini Businessmen's Association on the sectors that have been affected by Covid-19. The panel is also tasked by the cabinet to study the impacts of the pandemic on the Bahraini economy, and to submit its recommendations on the two matters. The cabinet also endorsed, based on a recommendation by the Government Executive Committee, a draft decree on including emergency expenses in the general state budget for 2020. Submitted by the Minister of Finance and National Economy, the bill aims to allocate a budget not exceeding BD177m to deal with the emergency expenses required for mitigating Covid-19's impact and curbing its spread.  
• 5 June: Ministry of Education confirms new academic year will begin in September with precautions to curb Covid-19 in place.
• 31 May: Flag carrier Gulf Air resumes flights to Pakistan.
• 28 May: Shura Council reportedly plans to revisit existing legislation and modify it as necessary amid Covid-19.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 36,431
• Recoveries: 27,531
• Deaths: 298

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 18 May: Kuwait makes wearing masks in public mandatory, with jail time threatened for violators.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 12 June: Higher Committee for Re-operating Flights at Kuwait International airport to start reviewing proposals for gradually resuming commercial flights.
• 5 June: 300 Cuban doctors and nurses flown in to assist efforts to treat Covid-19. The country will take delivery of the first shipment of Favipiravir, an anti-viral medication sold under the brand name Avigan, from Japan this week. 
• 2 June: Expatriates' residency permits and visas due to expire in June extended for three months.
• 1 June: Parliament to reconvene on 16 June and discuss the government's response to Covid-19 as its first priority. The parliamentary term will be extended to compensate for the suspension of sessions because of the outbreak.
• 31 May: Twelve-hour partial curfew from 6pm to 6am starts today as part of a five-phase plan to gradually return to normal life, and mosques will reopen. Al-Farwaniya, Khaitan, Holi, Jleeb Al Shuyoukh and Mahboula will remain under lockdown.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 24,524
• Recoveries: 9,533
• Deaths: 108

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 3 June: Tourism ministry issues guidelines for hotels, including instructions such as transparent face masks for receptionists, hand sanitisers for guests, and keeping swimming pools and gyms closed until further notice.
• 18 May: Supreme committee announces ban on all gatherings related to Eid, such as livestock auctions, prayers, greeting gatherings and group celebrations.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 14 June: Sultan Haitham bin Tariq sets up a national committee to counter the economic impact of Covid-19. 
• 9 June: People with expired IDs, driving licenses and passports will not be fined and their documents can be renewed after the Royal Oman Police's customer service centres reopen, Oman Police says.
• 8 June: Ministry of Transport submits plan to resume flights to Supreme Committee in charge of Covid-19. 
• 7 June: Wholesale trade at Al-Mawaleh Central Market for Fruits and Vegetables allowed to resume from today between 10pm and 6am. The market will remain closed for private vehicles, retailers and unauthorised workers
• 6 June: Lockdown imposed on Muttrah since 1 April is lifted. Parts of the province will remain closed for a short period, but commercial activities will be allowed to function from 7am to 7pm. Industrial activities in the Grand Valley region will not be allowed, and the Mutrah commercial market will not be opened.
• 30 May: Fifty per cent of Muscat employees permitted to return to offices, but Muttrah wilayat remains in isolation.
• 18 May: Muscat Municipality permits flower shops, boutiques and shops for women's clothing, shops selling beauty products, utensil shops and communication service halls to reopen, provided they adhere to social distancing and apply precautionary measures and safety requirements. Consulting, law and auditing offices; shops selling construction materials; brick factories; carpentry workshops; blacksmiths; and aluminium companies are also allowed to reopen.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 80,876
• Recoveries: 58,681
• Deaths: 76

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 18 May: Qatar will close all shops and halt all commercial activities on 19-30 May to curb Covid-19. The closure excludes pharmacies, food supply stores and food deliveries, UAE daily newspaper Gulf News reports.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 15 June: Qatar Airways reportedly plans to lay off 20 per cent of its workforce (9,200 staff). The basic pay of two senior pilot grades will be reduced by a quarter while junior pilots will face 15 per cent pay cuts. These measures will not impact Qataris, reports say. 
• 10 June: Government-funded entities have reportedly been told to cut costs and benefits for expat staff. The finance ministry has asked that costs for expat staff are cut by 30 per cent from 1 June through salary reductions or lay-offs two months from then. 
• 9 June: Four-phase programme planned to lift restrictions, starting 15 June. Mosques will reopen on the day, UAE newspaper the National reported. Phases 2, 3 and 4 of easing restrictions will begin on 1 July, 1 August and 1 September respectively. Restaurants will partially reopen under Phase 2, and flights will resume from low-risk countries, as well as malls will reopen with limited capacity, under the third phase. The final phase will lift restrictions on gatherings such as weddings, and allow the reopening of cinemas.
• 7 June: Mall of Qatar exempts tenants from June rents.
• 14 May: Face masks are reportedly mandatory for anyone going outdoors from 17 May.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 189,876
• Recoveries: 150,590
• Deaths: 8,950

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 13 June: Restrictions will be reimposed to curb cases if existing health regulations are not observed, President Hassan Rouhani says.
• 8 June: Health ministry urges residents to wear masks in public places as fears of second wave persist. 
• 3 June: President Hassan Rouhani says restrictions will be reintroduced if illness peaks again in Iran. Government employees went back to work and mosques resumed daily prayers on 30 May as part of the relaxation of Iran's lockdown.
• 2 June: Namaki says people becoming "completely careless" is causing case numbers to grow in Iran again, adding: "They either have total confidence in us or think the coronavirus has gone. The latter is not true at all."
• 1 June: Health minister Saeed Namaki says Iran must prepare for a second wave of the illness if people do not follow social distancing and other precautionary measures.
• 10 May: Abadan county placed under lockdown after case numbers sharply grow as people flout social distancing rules.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 6 June: Iranian universities reopen after being closed for more than 3.5 months. Nurseries will reopen in a week’s time, when religious and languages classes will also resume.
• 30 May: Government employees resume work and shopping malls permitted to stay open past 6pm. Mosques to reopen for daily prayers.
• 26 May: Plans reported to reopen major shrines across the country, as well as 'high-risk' businesses such as restaurants, cafes and wedding halls in Tehran.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 46,289
• Recoveries: 12,329
• Deaths: 1,672

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 3 June: Parliament warns against crowding in food markets. 
• 1 June: Prisons sterilised and prisoners provided PCR tests to curb Covid-19.
• 31 May: Government to provide 30 million fabric face masks each month, Egypt Today reports.
• 20 May: New cleaning campaigns launched in North Sinai cities.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 15 June: Egypt provides guidelines to reopen hotels and resorts for foreign visitors at 50 per cent capacity from 1 July. Cairo to receive E£275.4m ($17m) in financial support from French Development Agency.
• 11 June: Some foreign tourists to be allowed back into coastal areas such as southern Sinai, Dahab, Noweiba, Taba, Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam from 1 July. Restrictions are also being eased in terms of the curfew, which has been reduced by an hour to run from 8pm to 4am, and business hours, with shops allowed to be open for an extra hour until 6pm. The government is also considering opening places of worship in areas with the fewest Covid-19 cases next month.
• 5 June: Twelve Alexandria hotels reopen for domestic tourists. IMF agrees on $5.2bn aid for Egypt.
• 1 June: Cairo to discuss resumption of flights and establishment of maximum price limit for Covid-19 treatment, Egypt Today reports citing cabinet spokesman Nader Saad.
• 21 May: Cabinet approves 1 per cent cut in state workers' salaries to curb spending amid Covid-19. Some hotels open in Hurghada for domestic tourists.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 21,315
• Recoveries: 9,271
• Deaths: 652

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 9 June: Young Iraqis are in 'denial' about the health impact of Covid-19 and are dying due to their lack of awareness, health ministry spokesperson Saif Badr reportedly said, adding that the country is still "in the coronavirus danger zone".
• 7 June: Curfew extended for another week as daily case numbers cross 1,000-mark for the first time.
• 1 June: World Health Organisation says extension of lockdown is necessary in Iraq.
• 30 May: Government imposes full curfew in Baghdad and Iraqi provinces for a week starting from 31 May.
• 18 May: Kurdistan 24 reports two-week curfew from 20 May in Baghdad's Sadr, Kadhimiya, 9 Nissan and Mansour districts.
• 11 May: Curfew extended to run from 5pm to 5am daily, and full lockdown planned for Eid al-Fitr.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 3 June: Legislature hears first draft of law allowing finance minister Ali Allawi to borrow “from international financial institutions and foreign banks to finance public expenditures”.
• 30 April: Iraq is seeking additional financial assistance from the US, according to Bloomberg.
• 26 April: Washington grants Iraq a 30-day extension to a waiver allowing the country to import Iranian gas for its dilapidated power grids despite American sanctions.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 979
• Recoveries: 692
• Deaths: 9

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 14 June: Facilities where employees and visitors are not wearing masks, or those that do not comply with precautionary measures, will be penalised under Defence Order No. 11. 
• 8 June: Government says its comprehensive curfew may be imposed every weekend if more than 10 local cases are recorded in seven days, Roya News reports.
• 3 June: Comprehensive curfew announced for 5 June, with worshippers allowed to walk to mosques for Friday prayers.
• 2 June: Reopening date yet to be set for airports in Jordan, chairman of commissioners' board at Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, Haitham Mesto, tells Roya News. Airports will reopen gradually after it has been ascertained that it is safe to do so.
• 20 May: Full curfew announced from Thursday midnight to Sunday midnight. Lockdown restrictions also eased, allowing citizens to move using their vehicles until 11 pm on 20 and 21 May, with odd and even licence plate numbers to move on different days.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 15 June: Prime Minister Omar Razzaz issues Defence Order No. (13), which allows the liquidation of financial guarantees worth JD30m for travel and tourism agencies. Defence Order No. (14) is also issued with programmes that protect workers in the tourism sector and a ban on laying off employees in the sector. 
• 9 June: Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority announces plans to exempt Jordanians from entry fees to the ancient city until the end of 2020 to encourage domestic tourism. 
• 6 June: Mosques reopened for the first time since March. Ministry of Tourism allows restaurants and cafes to offer shisha, provided that people sit in outdoor terraces. Nurseries, restaurants, cafés, churches, sports clubs, hotels and hospitality areas, tourist sites and domestic aviation also allowed to resume operations.
• 31 May: Employers impacted by shutdown allowed to slash May and June payroll by 30 per cent as long as employees are in agreement and the reduction does not push the employee wage beyond the statuary minimum pay. Reductions must start with the senior management team. 
• 30 May: Mosques and religious sites gradually planned to reopen this week after public-sector employees returned to work last week.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 1,464
• Recoveries: 875
• Deaths: 32

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 4 June: Government has extended its ‘general mobilisation against coronavirus’ measures for another four weeks, Arab News reports. The extension is based on recommendations from Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council.
• 31 May: Full lockdown imposed in the village of Majdal Anjar in Bekaa, east Lebanon, for five days.
• 19 May: Prime Minister Hassan Diab reportedly says lockdown will be imposed again with unprecedented measures if citizens do not adhere to social distancing rules.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 9 June: Beirut's Rafik Hariri International airport to reopen in July and public sector employees permitted by Lebanese cabinet to return to work after taking precautionary measures.
• 1 June: Lebanon may resume flights on 21 June if two-week decline in cases is observed.
• 22 May: 'State of general mobilisation' extended until 7 June. The Daily Star reports Beirut plans to systematically reopen the country, but concerns of a second wave persist.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 8,885
• Recoveries: 7,828
• Deaths: 212

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 18 May: Lockdown extended to 10 June as case numbers continue to grow.
• 19 April: Lockdown extended to 20 May.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 9 June: Lockdown measures to be eased but state of emergency to be fully lifted only on 10 July. 
• 5 June: Arab Monetary Fund extends new $211m loan to support economic reform programmes in Morocco.
• 3 June: Post-lockdown measures to be discussed during monthly parliamentary meeting on 11 June, North Africa Post reports.
• 1 June: Commerce ministry issues safety guidelines as businesses plan to reopen after lockdown ends on 10 June.
• 20 May: Arab Monetary Fund extends $127m loan to help Morocco combat Covid-19.
• 11 May: Central Bank asks local banks to withhold dividends this year to mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 467
• Recoveries: 70
• Deaths: 10

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19: 

• 9 June: The Chinese Embassy to Libya has sent a shipment of medical aid to help fight the pandemic.
• 11 April: UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, says need for immediate end to hostilities in Libya discussed with Stephanie Turco Williams, the deputy head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
• 30 March: At least 466 prisoners reportedly freed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 10 April: Libya receives medical supplies from Turkey’s National Defense Ministry.
• 5 April: State of emergency continues in Libya as former Prime Minister  Mahmoud Jibril reportedly dies from coronavirus.
• 14 March: Al-Sarraj government in Tripoli declares state of medical emergency and allots LD500m for anti-coronavirus measures.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 1,110
• Recoveries: 999
• Deaths: 49

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 29 May: Tunisian President Kais Saied announces extension to the state of emergency in the country by six months starting from 30 May.
• 19 April: Lockdown extended till 4 May.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 15 June: Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh reportedly says the country has contained Covid-19, adding sea, land and air borders will open from 27 June for tourists, who must abide by mandatory quarantine in hotels. 
• 8 June: President Kais Saied orders the lifting of the country-wide curfew imposed since mid-March to curb Covid-19. 
• 4 June: Mosques, cafés and national football team's training camp reopened. Arab Monetary Fund extends $98m loan to support economic reforms.
• 3 June: Work to resume at 100 per cent capacity in public administration offices from 4 June, and mosques, places of worship, hotels and restaurants to reopen as well. Party halls to reopen with enclosed halls to operate at 50 per cent capacity and open areas at full capacity with adequate hygiene measures.
• 3 June: Arab Monetary Fund grants $59m loan facility to Tunisia. A second loan is also being considered to support reforms in the financial and banking sector. 
• 1 June: Land, sea and air borders to reopen on 27 June as Tunisia seeks to prop up economy through tourism revenues.
• 21 May: Mosques, restaurants and cafés to reopen from 4 June, with universities suspended till at least 8 June, Andalou Agency reports.
• 20 May: EU council approves $657.3m loan for Tunisia.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 11,031
• Recoveries: 7,735
• Deaths: 777

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 28 May: Lockdown extended from 30 May to 13 June to curb Covid-19.
• 19 May: Algeria extends curfew for Eid al-Fitr holiday. Restrictions will be imposed from 1pm-7am in most provinces and 5pm-7am in other parts, Reuters Africa reports.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 14 June: Further relaxation of restrictions planned. Government to lift curfew in 19 provinces and shorten it in the remaining 29, including in the capital Algiers, where it will run from 8pm to 5am instead of 7pm to 7am. Buses and taxis to resume with limitations on passenger numbers, and paid leave provided to 50 per cent of government employees to end.
• 4 June: Some economic activities to be resumed and businesses to reopen from 7 June. Construction and public sector activities to resume and home appliances, vegetable and fruit markets, pasty and men's barber shops to reopen. Second phase of reopening plan to be rolled out from 14 June.
• 11 May: Algiers laboratory, in partnership with Canadian and Jordanian companies, starts production of Covid-19 testing kits with a detection time of 15 minutes and a production capacity of 200,000 units per week.
• 9 May: Government approves hike of 2-7 per cent in retirement pensions despite financial challenges facing the country.

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 844
• Recoveries: 79
• Deaths: 208

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 4 May: Public areas including government buildings, markets and mosques to be sprayed with disinfectant as local authorities move to curb Covid-19.
• 11 April: Authorities in the southeast Yemen province of Hadramout move to curb Covid-19 in the port city of Al-Sheher by imposing further measures, where the country’s first case was announced on 10 April. A curfew from 6pm to 6am has been imposed in all cities of the province, and Hadramout governor Faraj Salmen al-Bahsani has urged residents to comply with the measures and stay indoors as much as possible.

Measures to minimise the economic crisis: 

• 2 June: International donors pledge $1.35bn in aid for Yemen. Saudi Arabia's contribution totals $500m, with the UK offering $200m and Germany contributing $140m.
• 18 May: Yemen’s Health Minister Nasser Ba’aom and Minister of Local Administration Abdul Raqib Fatah appeal for international aid. “We need personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, ventilators, finance for the medical workers who work in the Covid-19 centres,” Dr Ba’aom said, according to the National. “We also need medical equipment such as a complete biological unit, testing kits, field hospitals and beds for the intensive care units (ICUs). Additionally, we still need food aid as well as water, sanitation and hygiene.”

Covid-19 pandemic latest:

• Total confirmed cases: 177
• Recoveries: 78
• Deaths: 6

Actions to slow the spread of Covid-19:

• 7 May: Syria postpones parliamentary elections for second time from 20 May to 19 July as preventive measure to curb Covid-19.
• 2 April: Syrian authorities seal major shrine that Iranian pilgrims are known to visit.
• 29 March: Ban on commuting between provinces and all other urban and rural areas takes effect.

Financial measures to minimise the economic crisis:

• 25 May: Damascus eases lockdown restrictions to support economic growth, but repatriation flights put on hold as recently returned Syrians are treated.
• 3 May: President Bashar Al Assad says Syria could face a "real catastrophe" if Covid-19 cases grow.