31 Mar 2021 | 06:37 PM UTC
Mongolia: Officials plan nationwide business and gathering controls April 3-18; international travel restrictions set to continue until at least May 1 /update 20
Mongolia to impose business and gathering controls April 3-18. International travel restrictions to stay in force until at least May 1.
Event
Authorities in Mongolia plan to impose nationwide business and gathering controls April 3-18, while international travel controls are set to continue until at least May 1. Under the new directives, certain categories of nonessential businesses, including cinemas and gyms, must suspend operations. Businesses must close at 20:00 daily and enforce capacity limits. Restaurants cannot offer dine-in services. Public gatherings will be limited to no more than five people. The government also continues to require all people to wear facemasks in public nationwide.
Officials will likely continue highly localized lockdowns in residential buildings and businesses that have reported COVID-19 exposure. Residents, employees, and patrons of these locations must undergo COVID-19 testing and quarantine until receiving negative test results. Authorities will require close contacts of COVID-19 cases and their household members to quarantine for seven days, followed by a seven-day self-quarantine. Officials will require suspected cases originating from an outbreak site to quarantine for seven days.
Authorities continue to restrict travel from Ulaanbaatar to other areas of Mongolia; exceptions are in place for essential cargo shipments, healthcare workers, business trips, and charity work. Residents of the capital must present a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within the previous 72 hours in order to leave the city. Individuals traveling from other parts of Mongolia must complete a health declaration form prior to entering Ulaanbaatar.
Travel Restrictions
International travel restrictions will stay in effect through at least May 1. International commercial flights remain banned; only repatriation services are operational for Mongolian nationals, permanent residents, and some long-term visa holders. Some charter flights for foreign nationals seeking to leave Mongolia are also authorized. International arrivals are required to quarantine in government-run facilities at their own expense for 10 days, followed by four days of self-quarantine.
International rail passenger transport remains suspended. Goods are generally allowed to move through border checkpoints, though intermittent land border closures are likely to continue.
Advice
Consider postponing travel to Mongolia if affected by travel restrictions. Register with your diplomatic mission if attempting to depart Mongolia. Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Confirm all domestic transport arrangements. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Plan for potential shipping disruptions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.
