UAE suspends most flights to Italy

The UAE has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Italy, with the exception of Rome.

It's part of precautionary measures to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

In a statement, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said all passengers arriving from Rome will undergo strict medical checks before they enter the country.

"The decision to suspend flights was made after reviewing and analysing the current situation in Italy and was done in coordination with the concerned national authorities, including the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) and the UAE's national airline carriers; Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines," the statement added.

NCEMA, and other concerned authorities, will continue to closely monitor the situation in Italy and will take appropriate preventative measures as necessary.

The GCAA urged all passengers to check with their respective airlines for flight status updates on affected routes.