[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Kazakhstan has decided to suspend visa issuance to Chinese nationals and gradually close transportation links between the two countries to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).
The Kazakh Prime Minister's Press Office announced on the 29th (local time) that the government ministries joint committee adopted additional measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
According to foreign media, the Kazakh government has suspended visa issuance to Chinese nationals starting from that day.
Kazakhstan had previously announced that it would require health certificates from Chinese nationals applying for entry visas, but as the number of confirmed cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus in China increased, it appears they decided to completely block entry of Chinese nationals.
Bus services between Kazakhstan and China were suspended starting that day. From the 1st of next month, passenger train services between the two countries will be halted, and from the 3rd of next month, flights between the two countries will be suspended.
There have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Kazakhstan yet. However, 35 people who had traveled to China showed suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus, were quarantined, and tested. Among them, 8 people are still undergoing tests, according to Kazakh health authorities.
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