Checks at Manas airport. Still image from 24.kg
The Ministry of Health in Kyrgyzstan will require travellers arriving from 16 countries to self-isolate for two weeks in connection with the COVID-19 coronavirus, AkiPress reports (in Russian).
Until now, Kyrgyzstan has been placing people arriving from China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan (category 1 countries in terms of spread risk) in a 14-day hospital quarantine. This measure will be continued. But an additional list of 16 countries has been drawn up, with travellers from these countries required to undergo self-isolation. This list is composed of France, Germany, Spain, Singapore, the USA (category 2 countries) and Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Taiwan, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Iraq and the UAE (category 3).
According to the health ministry’s orders, representatives of diplomatic missions, members of official delegations and employees of international organisations with accreditation in the country will not be subject to the quarantine, unless they display symptoms.
Passengers on flights to Kyrgyzstan are currently required to fill in a form with their contact details whilst still on board. After landing, their temperatures are taken both on board the plane and in the arrivals lounge. Passengers from category one countries are then sent to hospital and the forms of passengers from category 2 and 3 countries are sent to local clinics in the areas where they are staying.
To date the COVID-19 coronavirus has claimed 4,638 lives and infected more than 126,000 people around the world. Yesterday, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a pandemic. There are still no officially-recorded cases of the virus in Central Asia. However, Kazakhstan today ordered the closure of schools and universities around the country and has cancelled all public events. The Kyrgyz cities of Osh and Bishkek have introduced measures against public gatherings (seen by many as more political than health-oriented, the Bishkek ban was later overturned by the courts). The Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre has also been closed on account of the virus.
