Iran imposes two-week travel ban to contain Omicron

Iranian citizens in neighbouring countries must enter the republic by land routes as air travel has been suspended

Women travel on a bus in Tehran, Iran. Coronavirus infections have surged in the country in recent weeks. Photo: EPA

Iran on Saturday announced a two-week travel ban to contain a surge in Covid-19 infections driven by the Omicron variant.

Immigration authorities said Iran would remain closed to travel by air for 15 days from December 25.

A decree was issued by the National Task Force for Fighting Coronavirus.

Iranian citizens living in neighbouring countries can enter the country by land routes if they have received at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and possess a negative PCR test card, the Islamic Republic News Agency said. They will need to take another PCR test at the border.

Rouhollah Latifi, a customs representative, said the restrictions will not apply to passengers travelling on health visas, for study or trade purposes, or people who have permanent residency permits.

Freight travel through land borders will continue in the meantime.

The new travel measures come as Iran struggles to prevent a surge in Omicron infections, amid efforts by the government to get more people vaccinated against the disease.

A man walks next to buildings where people stay home in Tehran, Iran on March 26, 2020. WANA / Reuters

A member of Iranian Red Crescent tests people with possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway. AFP

A member of Iranian Red Crescent tests passengers of a bus for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway. EPA

A member of Iranian Red Crescent tests people with possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms, as police blocked Tehran to Alborz highway. AFP

Iranian Red Crescents personnel rest in a tent. EPA

Members of Iranian Red Crescent get themselves disinfected after testing people for possible coronavirus Covid-19 symptoms. EPA

A man jumps rope at Valiasr street in Tehran. WANA / Reuters

An Iranian army soldier walks past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran. AP Photo

People in protective clothing work in a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army. AP Photo

A person in protective clothing walks through a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients. AP Photo

A member of the Iranian Army works at a temporary hospital in Tehran. AP Photo

A statue wearing a protective face mask is pictured at Azadi square, in Tehran. WANA / Reuters

Iranian workers set a temporary emergency hospital in a part of the world's largest shopping mall complex called 'Iran Mall'. EPA

The facility is to treat patients infected with the COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, in north-west of the capital of Tehran. EPA

According to the latest report by the Ministry of Health, there are at least 21,638 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 1,685 people have died from the virus throughout Iran. EPA

An Iranian woman health inspector checks a temporary emergency hospital in 'Iran Mall'. EPA

A general view of a temporary emergency hospital in a part of the world's largest shopping mall complex called 'Iran Mall'. EPA

Iranian workers set up a makeshift hospital inside the Iran Mall, northwest of Tehran. AFP

Iran is one of the countries most affected by the devastating pandemic of the coronavirus. EPA

Iran said that 123 more people had died from coronavirus, raising the official death toll to 1,556 in the Islamic Republic, one of the world's worst affected countries. AFP

Altogether, more than half of the 18 Iraqi provinces announced curfews for several days in the hopes it could contain the new coronavirus outbreak. AFP

Health Minister Bahram Einollahi said on Saturday that the rapid spread of Omicron may pose serious threats to the country.

He emphasised that few cases of the variant had been identified.

Mr Einollahi said that Iran has two “golden weeks” to expand booster vaccination coverage to more people to prevent a potential explosion in the number of infections with Omicron in early January.

Health ministry figures published on Saturday showed that booster vaccine shots delivered across Iran had reached nearly 5.5 million doses.