27 Apr 2021 | 06:53 AM UTC
Mongolia: Officials extend restrictions until 06:00 May 8 due to ongoing COVID-19 activity /update 22
Officials extend COVID-19 measures in Mongolia through 06:00 May 8. Lockdown ongoing in Ulaanbaatar. Entry, quarantine controls ongoing.
Event
Authorities have extended restrictions nationwide through at least 06:00 May 8 amid ongoing COVID-19 activity. Under the directives, specific 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.
In Ulaanbaatar, residents must remain at home except for essential reasons such as medical care or to purchase food or medicine. Authorities will close most nonessential businesses during the period; however, utilities, banks, healthcare, gas and fuel, food production, and postal services, among others, will continue. Approved services can only operate 07:00-19:00 daily. Most state-owned businesses will remain open with 30 percent of staff. Public transport also continues, but officials have restricted operating hours to 07:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00. Local officials may introduce similar movement and business restrictions at short notice if new COVID-19 cases emerge.
Authorities 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 stemming from an outbreak site to quarantine for seven days.
The government continues 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 to leave the city. Individuals traveling from other parts of Mongolia must complete a health declaration form before entering Ulaanbaatar. Officials are resuming traffic management using quick-response (QR) codes for private vehicles and taxis; authorization is only possible for people required to work onsite and other exceptions. Entry and exit restrictions are possible in other provinces and cities in the country in the event of significant COVID-19 activity.
Travel Restrictions
International travel restrictions will remain in effect until at least May 1. International commercial flights and passenger rail transport remain banned; only repatriation flights 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.
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.
