Foreign ministry warns Tajiks not to travel to five countries amid coronavirus crisis

Amid coronavirus spread, the government has warned residents of Tajikistan against traveling to China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Afghanistan.

On Thursday March 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged residents of Tajikistan to temporarily refrain from traveling to the mentioned countries.  

The travel advice released by the MFA information department also notes that those traveling to countries where cases of coronavirus were confirmed must strictly observe the rules of hygiene, take into consideration government’s recommendations and avoid visiting crowded places.  

Tajik embassies in foreign countries constantly monitor the coronavirus spread situation and provide necessary assistance to our nationals, says the Foreign Ministry. 

In accordance with requirements of sanitary-epidemiological norms, nationals of Tajikistan and foreign countries arriving from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Afghanistan are being quarantined for 14 days for the purpose of preventing possible spread of the illness to the country. 

Meanwhile, according to numbers released by CNN on March 5, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 3,300 people, the vast majority in mainland China.  There are now more than 96,000 global cases, with infections in more than 80 countries and territories.

Italy’s Civil Protection Agency announced yesterday that 41 additional people have died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 148.  

Iran’s Health Minister announced Thursday the launch of a national mobilization plan against coronavirus after 107 deaths and 3,513 cases were confirmed.  There have been 15 deaths and 591 new positive cases recorded since Wednesday, with major outbreaks of the virus in the provinces of Tehran, Qom, Gylan and Esfehan.

143 new cases (126 in Hubei), 30 new deaths (29 in Hubei) and 1,681 new discharges occurred in China on March 5, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China.