Deputy Prime Minister Ya. Sodbaatar yesterday evening, November 11, reported that the Government has decided to announce a five-day heightened state of readiness for disaster protection nationwide, for the first time in Mongolia.

Assessing the risks of  COVID-19 spread and based on the World Health Organization and the National Security Council's recommendations and Mongolian experts' suggestions, the Government considered it necessary to call a five-day lockdown to be in effect between 6:00 am of November 12 and 6:00 am of November 17.

In other words, it will be strict lockdown or ‘Tier 2’ of heightened state of readiness, stressed Mr. Sodbaatar. Noting that experts consider the professional organizations can curb the spread during this lockdown period, he advised citizens to stay home following to the infection control regime, and organizations and businesses to operate online as much as possible.

During this strict restriction, only essential services including food stores and supermarkets, gas stations, hospitals, pharmacies, power stations, communications and media, and funeral services, will operate normally.