Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova chaired a meeting of the Emergency Eesponse Centre for preventing the import and spread of the novel coronavirus in Russia.
A new variant of SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.529) has been discovered in South Africa and several other countries. According to the Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor), this variant is distinguished by a large number of mutations in the S-protein gene, which can make it more infectious and also reduce the effectiveness of antibodies. Developments around the new coronavirus variant are being carefully studied, and it is too early to make any final conclusions. This variant has not yet been found on the territory of Russia. The coronavirus test systems used in Russia can detect this variant.
Due to the emergence of the new variant, the emergency response centre has taken the following decisions:
- From 12.00 midnight on 28 November 2021, Russia will
restrict entry into the country for foreign citizens from the Republic of South
Africa, the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of
Namibia, the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of
Madagascar, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region, as well as for foreign citizens who have
been in these territories within the last 10 days;
- Rosturism will inform tour agencies about the
decision to restrict entry for foreign citizens from the abovementioned states;
- Rospotrebnadzor together with the Ministry of
Transport will organise express tests for the novel coronavirus infection for
citizens of Russia arriving from the Republic of Botswana, the Republic of
South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of
Zimbabwe, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Madagascar, the Kingdom
of Eswatini, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, the People’s Republic of China, the State of Israel, and
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as for
foreign citizens arriving from the People's Republic of China, the State of
Israel, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and will ensure
that the abovementioned persons comply with the sanitary and epidemiological
requirements;
- Russia
will extend the suspension of regular flights with the United Republic of
Tanzania until 1 February 2022.
The emergency response centre is monitoring the situation. Additional measures will be taken if necessary.