Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Event: The government of Uzbekistan has announced flight restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. Starting March 16, only Uzbek citizens will be allowed to enter Uzbekistan. Uzbek citizen will not be allowed to depart Uzbekistan at this time, a restriction which will apply to U.S. Legal Permanent Residents. Foreign citizens are still allowed to depart Uzbekistan.
Foreign trains have been given three days to depart. Uzbekistan Airways has also announced several flight cancellations for March and April at the following website: https://www.uzairways.com/en/important-information-0.
The Uzbek government is considering offering flights for foreigners wishing to depart. The U.S. Embassy has no additional information on the status of these flights at this time. Please check the Embassy’s COVID 19 page (https://uz.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/) for the latest updates.
The global public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, with more than 80,000 reported cases worldwide. As of March 16, 2020, the Government of Uzbekistan confirmed a total of 6 COVID-19 cases.
In response, the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health has established an official Telegram channel to provide information related to COVID-19 information in Uzbekistan: https://t.me/koronavirusinfouz. Note that using this channel requires downloading the Telegram Application.
On March 15, 2020, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Aripov announced a number of measures to contain the spread of the virus in Uzbekistan, including:
1) All educational facilities, from kindergarten to universities, are closed starting March 16, 2020. Uzbek TV will be organizing televised lessons for school students.
2) All public events, including sports and cultural events, are cancelled. These limitations do not apply to weddings which can still be conducted under recently adopted regulations.
3) Private businesses who unreasonably raise prices may face legal liability.
4) Uzbekistan may organize charter return flights for Uzbek citizens abroad. Those who decide to return home will be placed under a two-week quarantine.
5) A single hotline will be established starting March 16, 2020. The number is 1003.
6) Citizens who feel symptoms of the virus are advised to stay home, call the hotline at 1003 or emergency medical services at 103 so that specialists can come and examine them.
Local Resources:
· The Uzbek Government established a single hotline by for all Coronavirus related information: 1003. Please note that this line will likely only have Uzbek and Russian language capability.
· The telephone number for the Agency for Sanitary-Epidemiological Well-Being is: +99871-276-49-66. It only includes Uzbek and Russian languages. Website of this Agency: www.rses.uz.
· Official Telegram channel established by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Health for COVID-19 information: https://t.me/koronavirusinfouz. Please note that using this channel requires downloading the Telegram Application.
Actions to Take:
· Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
· For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
for information on conditions in Uzbekistan.
· Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance:
· U.S. Embassy Tashkent
+99878-120-5450
ACSTashkent@state.gov
https://Uz.usembassy.gov
https://uz.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/
· State Department - Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
· Uzbekistan Country Information
· Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
· Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
