Citing Deputy Prime Minister Altynai Omurbekova, 24.kg reported yesterday that Kyrgyz authorities have temporarily banned foreign nationals and stateless persons from entering the country.

These restrictions do not affect international cargo transportation, Omurbekova told a briefing in Bishkek on March 17.  

The measures are taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.  The authorities are ready to institute a state of emergency even if only one coronavirus case is identified, kloop.kg said.  

Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan has confirmed its first three coronavirus cases.

Kyrgyz Healthcare Minister Kosmosbek Cholponbayev said today that Kyrgyzstan has confirmed its first three coronavirus cases,

Three Kyrgyz nationals have tested positive after arriving from Saudi Arabia, he told a briefing, according to kabar.kg.  

Meanwhile, the number of people infected with COVID-19 in neighboring Kazakhstan has reportedly risen to 32.

“Five more cases were registered in the country, 4 of them in Almaty and 1 in Nur-Sultan.  32 coronavirus cases were recorded across the country in total, 15 in Almaty and 17 in Nur-Sultan, Dias Akhmetsharip, a spokesperson of the Healthcare Ministry of Kazakhstan, said yesterday, according to Kazinform.

Earlier, 27 coronavirus cases were reported in Kazakhstan.

In Uzbekistan, eleven COVID-19 cases were reported as of March 17.