![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4M6RGSOQMFH4D6T5T3LW4CCK44.jpg?smart=true&auth=34d78d5f9fcd952fc2579c962ddaf94ae0dde8ab3b38c290d6071db64b332199&width=400&height=225)
The Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo is pictured empty after the site closed to the general public. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVNNG534DJWXKOSI3PZKIMTDT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=328681ef6ac17200caa233bdc46ff4607332bcdc056ba9f9398b1e347d6103c0&width=400&height=225)
A police officer stands at the Qasr El Nil street during the first day of a two-week night-time curfew which was ordered by the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CFWVSJOG2MEDGZ3L323Q5PZBUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b06765bfb7870cfd5d76f2d27f356796fbc7ab27f3b3003bf28b19e69b67e089&width=400&height=225)
A view of an empty street with the Liberation Tower seen in the background, in Kuwait City. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WL4AQ5N6MQXC2GLSRWYI3ATI6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac7e3b3e92cb926969d3f2cb33e04f64c36dd72a39d3d46499ac4d0372c2e26e&width=400&height=225)
Iraqis use an anti-riot water-cannon vehicle to spray disinfecting liquid in the streets of the centre of the southern city of Basra. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJJLGIXHCSSPCONTIBWHQXMHFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=561585d3dbdceeadfd6da9db57c34e979b471daf22c8c45e555fc9d4b7a4977f&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian children play at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3OWQQ577BUA3JQA476QEJGHIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5d5a13443fb319944d013f47487f7c623a4e42ab1e364611bbed7764ba5609e&width=400&height=225)
An employee of the Palestinian health ministry sprays disinfectant on a worker crossing back from Israel at the checkpoint of Tarqumiya, near the West Bank town of Hebron. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AZLGE43563XQKNOZFEWCXAFCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d049dadbca13aae54209ae053de317b717b423d12d350fefe5f130aaf6bbc1f2&width=400&height=225)
A shop owner offers perfume as a disinfectant to a customer at his shop in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/75XRTROE4QDWCU27U7DZRYBV54.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4b7c4ebae8262819e52ce8b451d1b0486798c9719510845fda1f59c38713efd&width=400&height=225)
Employees disinfect streets and shops inside Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar to prevent the spread of coronavirus. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W6HSAW7MGAZNMYD3ZOH5UIGGX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e260c2af6efe083ca7ad089d4e1678f2e7214f3fefe3c77dc8b9d5cd5ea298b&width=400&height=225)
Lutfiye Yesilbas, an 89-year-old Turkish woman who lives alone in her home lowers her basket as her neighbour waits to take it at Kadikoy, in Istanbul. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFJUOLHMGKDOIX5ABPE335FY4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d674607ce7f61b8b156c630302d914e052b6bda0d66f99e3069b796335e4b03&width=400&height=225)
An employee of the Palestinian health ministry collects a swab sample from a worker crossing back from Israel at the checkpoint of Tarqumiya, near the West Bank town of Hebron. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JTGUJHTYR374YRT2ZZEEIGWDN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd0cbb00816ab7b50e7f3b4711b04222df95cf5f69723e1f767e02466cc78a73&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi coronavirus patients rest at a special ward at the Hakim Hospital in Najaf. AFP
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A lion and a bear are seen in a closed zoo in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQGXYCPLB44INUJSNF6FSTTUX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=08cf554950f5615b7669db92aa66145ba44a21d7bf5be133eba0cea12cb1f65e&width=400&height=225)
A man sorts donations for families in need in the central Iraqi holy city of Najaf. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2ZKMB3JPTF54PIVXWWBMMSO63I.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4b99f9381a9e817031aa4137e836d7c74409c9e7d32517c56260a7880b917ee&width=400&height=225)
People stand in a line to buy bread after Jordan announced it would allow people to go on foot to buy groceries in neighborhood shops, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4M6RGSOQMFH4D6T5T3LW4CCK44.jpg?smart=true&auth=34d78d5f9fcd952fc2579c962ddaf94ae0dde8ab3b38c290d6071db64b332199&width=400&height=225)
The Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo is pictured empty after the site closed to the general public. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVNNG534DJWXKOSI3PZKIMTDT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=328681ef6ac17200caa233bdc46ff4607332bcdc056ba9f9398b1e347d6103c0&width=400&height=225)
A police officer stands at the Qasr El Nil street during the first day of a two-week night-time curfew which was ordered by the Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CFWVSJOG2MEDGZ3L323Q5PZBUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b06765bfb7870cfd5d76f2d27f356796fbc7ab27f3b3003bf28b19e69b67e089&width=400&height=225)
A view of an empty street with the Liberation Tower seen in the background, in Kuwait City. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WL4AQ5N6MQXC2GLSRWYI3ATI6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac7e3b3e92cb926969d3f2cb33e04f64c36dd72a39d3d46499ac4d0372c2e26e&width=400&height=225)
Iraqis use an anti-riot water-cannon vehicle to spray disinfecting liquid in the streets of the centre of the southern city of Basra. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJJLGIXHCSSPCONTIBWHQXMHFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=561585d3dbdceeadfd6da9db57c34e979b471daf22c8c45e555fc9d4b7a4977f&width=400&height=225)
Palestinian children play at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City amid the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A3OWQQ577BUA3JQA476QEJGHIY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5d5a13443fb319944d013f47487f7c623a4e42ab1e364611bbed7764ba5609e&width=400&height=225)
An employee of the Palestinian health ministry sprays disinfectant on a worker crossing back from Israel at the checkpoint of Tarqumiya, near the West Bank town of Hebron. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4AZLGE43563XQKNOZFEWCXAFCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d049dadbca13aae54209ae053de317b717b423d12d350fefe5f130aaf6bbc1f2&width=400&height=225)
A shop owner offers perfume as a disinfectant to a customer at his shop in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/75XRTROE4QDWCU27U7DZRYBV54.jpg?smart=true&auth=f4b7c4ebae8262819e52ce8b451d1b0486798c9719510845fda1f59c38713efd&width=400&height=225)
Employees disinfect streets and shops inside Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar to prevent the spread of coronavirus. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W6HSAW7MGAZNMYD3ZOH5UIGGX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e260c2af6efe083ca7ad089d4e1678f2e7214f3fefe3c77dc8b9d5cd5ea298b&width=400&height=225)
Lutfiye Yesilbas, an 89-year-old Turkish woman who lives alone in her home lowers her basket as her neighbour waits to take it at Kadikoy, in Istanbul. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HFJUOLHMGKDOIX5ABPE335FY4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d674607ce7f61b8b156c630302d914e052b6bda0d66f99e3069b796335e4b03&width=400&height=225)
An employee of the Palestinian health ministry collects a swab sample from a worker crossing back from Israel at the checkpoint of Tarqumiya, near the West Bank town of Hebron. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JTGUJHTYR374YRT2ZZEEIGWDN4.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd0cbb00816ab7b50e7f3b4711b04222df95cf5f69723e1f767e02466cc78a73&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi coronavirus patients rest at a special ward at the Hakim Hospital in Najaf. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IXYXXTVYYACG43Q2GOBC3AXYSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8641f1690bd0631faa01a8fce07eacc18ba9947cd36f016e2161ebfa883a5e03&width=400&height=225)
A lion and a bear are seen in a closed zoo in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EQGXYCPLB44INUJSNF6FSTTUX4.jpg?smart=true&auth=08cf554950f5615b7669db92aa66145ba44a21d7bf5be133eba0cea12cb1f65e&width=400&height=225)
A man sorts donations for families in need in the central Iraqi holy city of Najaf. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2ZKMB3JPTF54PIVXWWBMMSO63I.jpg?smart=true&auth=a4b99f9381a9e817031aa4137e836d7c74409c9e7d32517c56260a7880b917ee&width=400&height=225)
People stand in a line to buy bread after Jordan announced it would allow people to go on foot to buy groceries in neighborhood shops, in Amman, Jordan. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4M6RGSOQMFH4D6T5T3LW4CCK44.jpg?smart=true&auth=34d78d5f9fcd952fc2579c962ddaf94ae0dde8ab3b38c290d6071db64b332199&width=400&height=225)
The Giza pyramids necropolis on the southwestern outskirts of the Egyptian capital Cairo is pictured empty after the site closed to the general public. AFP
Coronavirus: finding the weaponry to fight back
Evidence-based research is critical to establishing fact from fiction
Robert Matthews
26 March, 2020
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