Russia to ban entry of Chinese to halt virus
20 February, 2020
Russia will temporarily ban Chinese nationals from entering the country as a result of virus outbreak centered in China that has infected a lot more than 73,000 persons worldwide, Russian authorities said Tuesday.
The entry ban switches into effect Thursday at nighttime Moscow time for an indefinite period, according to a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The federal government said it took the move as a result of “worsening epidemiological situation” in China.
Russia already had cut off most Chinese visitors by closing the long land border with China and Mongolia and imposing other travel restrictions. The new entry ban won’t affect travelers who have to transfer flights at Russian airports, authorities said.
So far, Russia has already established only three confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease due to the virus - two Chinese citizens who were treated and released, and a Russian national infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship now quarantined in Japan.
However, Russian authorities took significant steps to try to keep carefully the virus from spreading, including hospitalizing hundreds of men and women as a precaution after they returned from China.
Russia halted most air traffic to China, suspended all trains to China and North Korea, and temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Chinese students studying in Russia were told never to return until March 1.
Earlier this month, the prime minister said Russia might start deporting the foreigners infected with the virus.
For the time being, Germany is sending another shipment of medical aid supplies to China to greatly help the Asian giant fight the coronavirus epidemic.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the government would send 8.7 a great deal of aid supplies worth €150,000 ($162,000), including protection gear and disinfectants.
“Germany stands firmly privately of China in the battle against coronavirus and works closely and trustfully with the Chinese officials,” Maas said. “We've the most respect for the efforts China has already undertaken.”
The Russian Embassy in Japan announced Tuesday that one Russian was among the 542 persons on the Diamond Princess confirmed with the virus. The statement clarified earlier reports about two Russians getting infected.
On Monday, a Russian court sent a female who broke out of a locked hospital throughout a 14-day isolation period back to quarantine. Russian health authorities are suing other people who have defied quarantine requirements.
Source: the-japan-news.com