Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to 30 countries hardest-hit by novel coronavirus (Covid19) effective immediately, PM Abiy Ahmed has announced.

In a televised address Friday evening, Abiy said all passengers arriving in Ethiopia from the affected countries will be quarantined at designated facilities for 14 days until their status is known.

He, however, did not reveal the countries affected by the directive. Ethiopian Airlines posted the message below on its twitter handle without mention to which countries it suspended flying.

We would like to inform our esteemed customers that we have stopped flight to 30 countries due to COVID19 virus. #EthiopianAirlines pic.twitter.com/0jckrsTzD0 — Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 20, 2020

Confirming the announcement, the carrier tweeted; “We would like to inform our esteemed customers that we have stopped flight to 30 countries due to Covid-19 virus”.

Ethiopia has reported nine cases of the coronavirus pandemic.