DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates, a major air transit center, is ready for "worst case scenarios" as the coronavirus spreads in the Middle East, a government official said on Wednesday. Three Gulf Arab states recorded their first new coronavirus cases this week, all in people coming from Iran, the UAE's neighbor across the Gulf which on Wednesday reported a total of 19 virus-related deaths, the most outside China, and 139 cases. Authorities in the UAE, which has reported 13 cases since Jan. 28, have enough facilities to quarantine patients and will be carrying out surveillance on people entering the country, said the official from the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. It was too early to ban public gatherings in the business, trade and tourism hub, added the official. Dubai is due to host the Expo 2020 world fair in October for six months.

Source: International New York Times February 26, 2020 11:48 UTC