Flights from Kabul to Turkey have been stopped until October 17 as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority said.

However. the flights to Kabul from Turkey have not been stopped so far, according to Mohammad Qasim Wafaeezada, head of the aviation authority.

“According to global figures, COVID-19 cases are much higher in Turkey than Afghanistan and there is a possibility that we will stop Turkey flights to Afghanistan in the absence of a preventive mechanism,” Wafaeezada said.

The coronavirus cases are increasing globally. The Afghan Ministry of Public Health on Sunday reported 44 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 357 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry also reported 10 recoveries from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

The association of tourist companies said the figures provided by the Ministry of Public Health on COVID-19 patients are not based on standard norms.

“The figures tracking the coronavirus belonged to two provinces only. They only show that relevant departments lack the required coordination for this matter,” said Massoud Bina, deputy head of the association.

Turkey is a main route for Afghan and foreign nationals who want to travel to Europe and the US.