As covid-19 spreads, Arab states are clamping down

IF YOU BELIEVEThe EconomistThe Economist Today the official numbers, covid-19 has not yet hit the Middle East and north Africa as hard as the rest of the world. Excluding Iran, where an outbreak is raging, the virus has killed around 100 people in the region, compared with thousands in Europe (which has more people). Nevertheless, Arab leaders are taking drastic steps to curb its spread, imposing curfews, closing businesses and quarantining cities. This is wise: countries such as Italy and Iran delayed action and were overwhelmed. It is also troubling. The region’s regimes have long played on people’s fears to justify their authoritarian rule.