Tajikistan has temporarily suspended issuance of work permits to nationals of the coronavirus-affected countries, according to the Migration Service  Tajikistan.

The decision on suspending issuance of work permits to citizens of the coronavirus-hit countries has reportedly been made by a coronavirus-prevention commission that was set up at the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan on March 2.   

The plan adopted by this commission, in particular, provides for refrainment from travel to the coronavirus-affected countries, compliance with hygiene standards in the workplace, awareness activities for labor migrants on the coronavirus effects.

The plan also provides for temporarily suspending issuance of work permits to nationals of the coronavirus-affected countries.

Recall, the current guidance of the Ministry of health and Social Protection of Tajikistan is for all people traveling to Tajikistan from China, South Korea, Iran, Afghanistan and Italy to be placed in quarantine for a period of 14 days.  

Besides, Tajikistan has suspended flights to Afghanistan, China and Iran.

Currently, nationals of China and Afghanistan are working in Tajikistan.

Afghan media reports say the coronavirus cases have risen to five in Afghanistan.  

According to TOLONews, the Afghan Ministry of Health reported on March 10 that one positive case of the deadly coronavirus has been registered in northern Samangan province, bringing a total number of the confirmed coronavirus cases in the country to five.  The five patients have reportedly been taken to an isolation ward and are being treated.    

As of March 11, the novel coronavirus reportedly infected 80,788 people and killed 3,158.   

Meanwhile, CNN reports that anyone arriving in Beijing from overseas must self-quarantine for 14 days.  Beijing's municipal government has reportedly announced tightened quarantine rules targeting international arrivals, amid a growing number of imported cases in the Chinese capital.