BERLIN — Russia will temporarily ban Chinese nationals from entering the country due to the virus outbreak centered in China that has infected more than 73,000 people worldwide, Russian authorities said Tuesday. The new entry ban won’t affect travelers who need to transfer flights at Russian airports, authorities said. However, Russian authorities have taken significant steps to try to keep the virus from spreading, including hospitalizing hundreds of people as a precaution after they returned from China. Russia halted most air traffic to China, suspended all trains to China and North Korea, and temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Earlier this month, the prime minister said Russia might start deporting the foreigners infected with the virus.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 18, 2020 23:03 UTC