Security Alert – Travel Restrictions Expanded by Mongolian Government in Response to corona virus (COVID-19) – (02/25/2020)
Location: Mongolia
Event: Travel Restrictions Expanded by Mongolian Government in Response to – corona virus (COVID-19)
On 24 February 2020, the government of Mongolia announced that all flights from/to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) would be suspended from 25 February to 2 March 2020.
Mongolia continues its travel restrictions on travel from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Individuals who have traveled to China within 14-days of their intended arrival in Mongolia will not be allowed to enter the country.
Travelers continue to be prohibited from entering Mongolia from China at land border crossings and via rail. Air travel to/from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau has been suspended until 30 March.
Mongolia has also asked that travelers arriving from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19 self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival to Mongolia.
The Mongolian government has also imposed travel restrictions on travel within the country. Travel between provinces has been banned until 27 February and public transport has been suspended during the same period.
Schools and universities in Mongolia continue to be closed and school age children are banned from appearing in public places until 30 March due to COVID-19 concerns. The Mongolian government has also decreed that public events are prohibited, cinemas and entertainment centers must close, and bars and restaurants must reduce their operating hours during the same period.
Due to decreased demand the number of flights in and out of Mongolia has been reduced and may decrease further limiting travelers’ options to return to the United States.
Mongolia’s health system continues to be taxed by normal seasonal maladies and hospital capacity in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, continues to decrease. Medical evacuation, if possible, may become a protracted process. Travelers should consider these factors and their health before traveling to Mongolia.
The Department of State issued a Travel Advisory on 30 January indicating that travelers should not travel to China. More information on this travel advisory can be found at travel.state.gov.
Actions to Take:
- If your travel plans before 30 March include transiting China on your way to Mongolia you should take steps to re-route your trip since you will be denied entry to Mongolia should you transit there.
- If you have traveled to China within 14 days immediately prior to your scheduled arrival in Mongolia you should reconsider travel to Mongolia as you will be denied entry.
- Should your travel plans to Mongolia before 2 March include transiting South Korea you should take steps to re-route your trip since you may be denied entry to Mongolia if you transit there.
- This is a developing situation and is changing regularly.You should monitor media and state.gov for future updates. Some useful sources of information are: @usembmongolia, @USAmbMongolia, U.S. Embassy – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Facebook, @CDCgov, @WHO_Mongolia,
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Phone: (976)7007-6001
E-mail: UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov
https://mn.usembassy.gov/
State Department – Consular Affairs: +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
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