March 13, 2020, (KHARTOUM) Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Ambassador Omar Bashir Manis, issued a decision Thursday evening stopping visa issuances and flight services to eight countries including neighbor Egypt and Italy over fears of the coronavirus outbreak, a government statement said on Thursday. Sudan will also halt bus trips to Egypt, the statement said. The decision required all citizens to avoid traveling to the affected areas except for the most urgent need. However, the Sudanese Cabinet directed officialls of the presidential and VIP halls to cooperate and facilitate implementation of the health procedures. In a related development, the decsion called on the ministries of culture and information to intensify efforts to spread health awareness and broadcast awareness messages to citizens in all audio-visual media in coordination with the Ministry of Health. The ministry of health also appealed to citizens to avoid large gatherings.