Russia and Ukraine close borders because of coronavirus pandemic: what else will be limited

Russia will close borders for foreigners from March 18 to May 1, reports «Medusa». Ukraine has already closed its borders - this happened on March 16. What other restrictions are being introduced by countries and cities due to the coronavirus pandemic?

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The restrictions will not apply to diplomats, crew members of aircraft, ships and trains, as well as transit air passengers and foreigners who have a residence permit in Russia. Private individuals will be able to come to the Russian Federation only for the funeral of close relatives.

On March 16, Canada and Malaysia also announced border closures. The EU leadership announced the possibility of introducing similar measures at the level of the entire union and the Schengen area.

Prohibition for foreigners and the queue: what is happening on the Ukrainian borders

Since March 16, Ukraine has closed borders for foreigners, and Poland and Slovakia do not let Ukrainians pass, the BBC writes.

There are no significant problems with the goods, assure at customs.

From midnight on March 16, Ukraine closed about a hundred border checkpoints. Nearly fifty cross-border checkpoints banned the pedestrian crossing of the border.

Poland introduced its entry restrictions on March 15, and Slovakia on March 13. Ukrainians now cannot enter these countries.

Currently, there are only three checkpoints on the border between Ukraine and Poland: “Dorogusk-Yagodin”, “Grebnoye-Rava-Russkaya” and “Korchevaya-Krakovets”. Only Poles, as well as foreigners who have a family or residence permit in Poland, can get from Ukraine to Poland through these checkpoints.

The State Border Service advises checking the information about the work of Ukrainian and foreign checkpoints before traveling, said representative Andrei Demchenko.

You can monitor what was closed and what works during quarantine on the map of checkpoints.

Upon entry into Ukraine, everyone's temperature is taken. As of morning, there were no queues to leave Ukraine. But there are problems at the entrance. In particular, several hundred people arrived at the Shegini pedestrian checkpoint from the Polish side at night and were unable to cross the border because the checkpoint was closed.

They went to the nearby Korcheva-Krakovets, which works, but there is only road traffic.

“People got on buses and cars to cross the border. We contacted local authorities. They allocated buses and took about 500 people from the Polish side,” said Andrei Demchenko.

The reduction of operating points leads to queues at the border. As of the morning of March 16, about 200 cars were known from the Polish side at the Krakovets point.

On the subject: How quickly the world will come to its senses: how long the coronavirus pandemic will last

Demchenko said that border guards have increased the number of outfits.

“It took 2,5 hours to drive 9 km before the border,” says Artur from Kiev about the night crossing of the border between Poland and Ukraine. “There were so many people and so many buses!” I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

According to him, the border itself from one state of emergency to another passed quickly, they checked everyone in a very organized manner.

“The Poles released them very quickly. Everything was done at a distance. And ours also quickly took the temperature. I’ve never gone through customs so quickly.”

Since midnight on March 16, border guards did not allow 50 foreigners to enter Ukraine.

From March 17, air traffic in Ukraine will be stopped and buses and trains will not be allowed through. It will be possible to enter the country only by car and only to citizens of Ukraine. Foreigners will be let out, but not allowed in.

About the movement of goods

As for the movement of goods, it did not stop.

“From the point of view of the movement of goods, from the point of view of exports, imports that should enter the country, the situation is under control,” Chairman of the State Customs Service Maxim Nefedov said at a briefing in Kyiv.

At the same time, he admits that logistics will be somewhat slowed down, because cars undergo sanitization, and drivers measure temperature.

According to Nefedov, those checkpoints that remained, and this is 1-2 from neighboring countries, should be enough for the movement of goods.

“The fact of some kind of panic that we will have a shortage of some products does not correspond to reality,” Nefedov said.

He said that at the Yagodin point there is a congestion of cars, this is being resolved manually, increasing the number of customs officers.

On the subject: How to travel during a coronavirus epidemic without health risks

Kiev closes cafes and restaurants

Kiev imposes strict restrictions on most public institutions, the BBC writes. New restrictions will come into force on March 17, the mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a statement.

From shops only grocery and drugstores will work. Also, gas stations and banks will not be closed.

Also, city authorities want to restrict communication with other cities.

At the same time, at a briefing, First Deputy Chairman of the Kyiv City State Administration Nikolai Povoroznik said that so far the restrictions on communication between Kiev and other cities are advisory in nature.

According to him, they can become mandatory only after the relevant decisions of the government, which solves the issue of stopping the movement of intercity buses and trains. That is why Kiev will not be closed for entry and exit.

In the capital, the holding of cultural, sports, social, religious and other events with the mass participation of citizens is limited.

They will close shopping and entertainment centers, restaurants, cafes and bars for visitors. Catering establishments can work only online and with delivery.

In addition, sports clubs, beauty salons, saunas, beauty parlors, as well as discos, night clubs and computer clubs, will not work.

“We recommend going outside only in cases: work, store, pharmacy, hospital,” Mr. Povoroznik addressed the residents of Kiev.

He noted that from March 17, urban transport will be instructed to increase the number of disinfection measures during the day.

Experience in other cities

On March 15, the Minister of Health of Ukraine Ilya Yemets spoke out for restricting the operation of public transport, shopping and entertainment centers, and movement within the country.

“Only pharmacies and grocery stores should be open,” the statement said.

As of Sunday evening, from March 16, all shopping and entertainment venues, including restaurants, zoos, fitness clubs and stadiums, were closed by Odessa and Lviv. Lviv region also introduced restrictions on movement within the region.

Ternopol plans to close markets, malls and stores, except food and pharmacies, from March 17. The corresponding decision will be considered at a meeting of the Ternopil City Council on Monday.

Quarantine in Ukraine

From March 12, the Cabinet of Ministers introduced quarantine throughout Ukraine until April 3. The restrictions apply to the educational process and public events.

Quarantine began at schools and universities. Also limited to attend kindergartens, art and sports schools.

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