Russia is to completely close its borders from Monday to stop the spread of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ), the government said on Saturday.
A decree on the government’s website said Russia would “temporarily restrict traffic” across national borders to prevent new infections.
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The country closed its borders to foreigners last week and grounded all international flights on Thursday as part of increasingly stringent measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Russia. Health officials have registered 1,264 cases and four deaths, according to Saturday’s official tally.
Russian diplomats and truck drivers will be exempted from the new restrictions.
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Russian citizens living permanently in the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk would also still be allowed to cross the border, the decree said.
