Russia bans Chinese citizens from entering the country due to COVID-19

(Patria) – Russia will ban Chinese citizens from entering the country from February 20 due to the risk of coronavirus infection.

The ban was announced by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Tatyana Golikova, after a meeting discussing preventive measures for the spread of COVID-19.

- From midnight local time on February 20, 2020, the crossing of citizens of the People's Republic of China across the state border of the Russian Federation will be temporarily suspended, the statement said, adding that this applies to any purpose of travel – educational, tourist, business, etc.

Russia previously banned visa-free entry for Chinese tourist groups.

So far, two cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Russia, both in Chinese citizens who were subsequently hospitalized in Siberia.