All land border ports between China and Russia closing to travelers temporarily: Chinese Embassy

21:07, April 08, 2020

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  China closes land border with Russia to prevent imported COVID-19 cases

  The border city of Suifenhe. (Photo:CGTN)The border port of Suifenhe in Chinas Heilongjiang Province closed to all arrivals on Tuesday in an attempt to prevent COVID-19 cases originating abroad into the country.The Chinese consulate in the Russian city of Vladivostok, the capital of Primorsky region which borders Heilongjiang, reminded Chinese nationals not to return home through the port city since the sudden influx of COVID-19 cases has strained the medical system in the county-level city.Heilongjiang on Tuesday reported 25 new imported COVID-19 cases and 86 asymptomatic cases. Asymptomatic patients dont show symptoms of the disease but can still pass on the virus.All of the cases involve Chinese citizens returning from neighboring Russia. They have all taken flights from Moscow to Vladivostok, then entered China through the border city of Suifenhe.An exit road port in the city of Suifenhe. (Photo:CGTN)The Chinese consulate urged Chinese nationals in Russia not to choose this route as their journey back home, because the citys capacity for testing and quarantine has been compromised. Officials say medical aid teams from nearby regions have been organized and some arrived earlier this week.The Chinese consulate also said Chinese arrivals will be put in quarantine for 14 days and suggested they avoid Primorsky region, since all guesthouses and nursing homes on the Russian side are closed to outsiders until June 1.An aerial view of the border city of Suifenhe. (Photo: CGTN)Chinese citizens can call the 24-hour helpline of the consulate on 007-9020780873 if they have any problem.China has largely shifted its attention to imported cases and asymptomatic patients since the domestic situation has stabilized.

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  Border ports remain closed to block infection from neighboring countries

  A security officer checks a truck at the border checkpoint in Suifenhe in Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province.(Photo: IC)Chinas border entry ports that have been shut will remain closed, Chinas immigration authority said on Monday, as the pressure from epidemic prevention and control from neighboring countries continues to rise.The land border ports that have been closed since the outbreak will continue to be closed, and seasonal ports will postpone their date of opening. Passage routes in border ports will be restricted and only retain freight transportation functions, Liu Haitao, a senior official with the National Immigration Administration, said Monday.China will minimize border crossing and prohibit entry and exit of people from third countries at border ports, the immigration official said.China is strictly controlling the issuance of entry-exit certificates in border areas, and also restricting non-essential entry-exit activities such as tourism and visits to relatives and friends. The number of people coming from border areas on both sides has dropped significantly, falling by nearly 90 percent."Most of our border neighboring countries have reported confirmed cases, and the epidemic situation is still climbing," Liu said. "The pressure of epidemic prevention and control from neighboring countries continues to rise."On Monday, the National Health Commission reported 108 newly confirmed patients, 98 of whom were imported cases.As of Monday, a total of 253 Chinese nationals who returned to Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang Province from Russia via the Moscow-Vladivostok-Suifenhe route were confirmed to have COVID-19.Police in border areas will boost their patrol capability, strictly cracking down on illegal border crossing, smuggling and drug trafficking.Residents in border regions will be given legal knowledge and encouraged to report illegal border crossing activities.At th...

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  Rwanda bans travel between cities and districts to contain spread of virus

  A main street wears a deserted look in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on April 3, 2020. The government banned travel between cities and districts in order to contain the spread of the virus. Non-essential businesses are closed, travel between cities and districts remains suspended and non-essential