Russia confirms 2 cases of coronavirus

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Russia, the country’s vice premier announced on Friday.

Both infected are Chinese citizens living in Russian regions of Zabaykalsky Krai and Tyumen Oblast, Tatyana Golikova said at a news conference in Moscow.

Following the recent developments, the government has decided to undertake additional measures to prevent further spread of the coronavirus in the country, Golikova added.

Russia partly closes its border with Mongolia and cancels all air travels to China, except Aeroflot's flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Moscow has also asked Beijing to keep the slots of regular flights for the charter planes required to evacuate Russian citizens from China, Golikova said.

According to preliminary data, a total of 341 Russians are currently in the Chinese province of Hubei and 2,665 on Hainan Island.

A decree, prohibiting the delivery of working visas to the Chinese citizens, will be submitted to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in the nearest time, she added.

Russia is preparing the first humanitarian convoy for China, which will depart later on Friday, she said.

The novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city, is said to have been transmitted to humans from animals, particularly bats.

The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 213, the National Health Commission said Friday.

Some 9,692 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, have been reported in China.

The virus has raised alarms globally, with cases reported across Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Canada.

Travelers from China are being screened for the virus at airports worldwide. Several airlines have suspended flights to Wuhan and other parts of China.

At an emergency meeting Thursday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak an international emergency.