Photo from Kursiv.kz
As of 14 March, Uzbekistan has suspended flights to and from France, Spain and Great Britain in connection with the current coronavirus epidemics in these countries, Gazeta.uz reports (in Russian), citing a source in the government.
Flights will be suspended from 00:00. From this moment, the Uzbek border services will no longer allow entry to citizens of China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France and Spain and non-citizens permanently residing in these countries, as well as all foreign citizens and persons without citizenship who have visited these states within the last 14 days.
The new measure does not affect holders of diplomatic and service passports, or citizens of these countries or non-citizens who permanently reside in these countries if they have not visited these countries in the last 14 days prior to their arrival in Uzbekistan. Government ministries in Uzbekistan have also been recommended to limit managers’ and employees’ trips abroad as far as possible until the situation is stabilised.
According to the source, the decision was taken already on 12 March by a special commission to prevent the spread of the coronavirus into and within the country. Charter flights may be arranged to evacuate Uzbek citizens from the named countries if required.
Uzbekistan has already suspended flight connections with South Korea, Italy, Japan, Iran and Afghanistan in connection with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Due to Saudi Arabia’s current ban on entry for pilgrims and tourists, Uzbek Airways has also cancelled all flights from Tashkent to Medina and Jeddah.
Currently the only country in Central Asia which has officially confirmed cases of the coronavirus is Kazakhstan.
