Mongolia locks down capital after 1st local virus case

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – A lockdown has been enforced in Mongolia’s capital after its first locally transmitted coronavirus case was confirmed on Wednesday, local media reported.

Strict restrictions, including suspension of academic activities and movement curbs, will be imposed in Ulaanbaatar for the next three days, state agency Montsame News reported.

The decision was taken after a woman was infected by her husband, a truck driver who was in home isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

The government has started tracing all the couple’s known contacts, the report said.

All educational institutes, including kindergartens, schools, universities, and training centers, in the capital have been closed, along with public facilities such as theaters, museums, and cinemas.

Vehicular and rail traffic to and from Ulaanbaatar has also been restricted for the next three days.

Authorities also decided to curb cross-border movement, especially with Russia, which is among the world’s hardest-hit countries.

The Altanbulag border checkpoint with Russia will be closed for two months, starting Nov. 16 to Jan. 18, 2021.

Tes, Artssuuri, Ulikhan, Ereentsav, and Borshoo border points are to be closed for an indefinite period from Nov. 16, according to the report.

As of Nov. 11, at least 40 truck drivers who came back from Russia through Altanbulag have tested positive for COVID-19, it added.

Mongolia has registered 382 coronavirus cases so far, with a majority of them being people who traveled overseas.

There has been no virus-related fatality in the country to date.