Russia bans Chinese citizens over virus concerns: agencies

Russia on Tuesday said it would ban all Chinese citizens from entering its territory from February 20, in a drastic measure against spre of new coronavirus, local news ncies said.

" entry of all Chinese citizens via Russia's state frontiers will be suspended from February 20 for work travel, private travel, study and tourism," said Deputy Prime Minister in charge of health, Tatiana Golikova, according to ncies.

She said decision was taken "because of worsening of epidemic in China and fact that Chinese nationals are continuing to arrive on Russian territory."

Several Chinese nationals visit Russia as tourists or live re for work or study and many transits through Russian airports en route to West.

Russia has taken drastic measures to stop spre of COVID-19 outbreak which has claimed nearly 1,900 lives in China and around world. It has alrey closed its 4,250-km (2,650-mile) border with China.

re are more coronavirus cases in Russia after two women, who returned from China recently, were released from hospital.