Uzbekistan to cancel rapid tests for coronavirus
Uzbekistan abolishes the mandatory express COVID-19 on-arrival tests for all entering the country.
Experts told how this measure will affect the flow in the direction in the absence of regular flights.
From March 15, the government of Uzbekistan will cancel the procedure of mandatory rapid test for the presence of coronavirus antigen for passengers entering from abroad through airports, railway stations, border checkpoints.
The health of those arriving from abroad is monitored. Passengers will have to present a certificate of negative PCR test result made no earlier than 72 hours before departure to the country (certificate in English or Russian).
From March 25, only the results of the COVID-19 PCR test, conducted in special laboratories, will be recognized.
Since January 28, concert and entertainment events are allowed in Uzbekistan, restrictions on the work of catering and entertainment enterprises are removed. On the territory of the republic, masked regime and social distance are maintained.
Experts positively assess the decision of the Uzbek side to ease the entry conditions for foreigners.
Uzbekistan has opened its borders for the entry and exit of any type of transport from October 1, 2020. Now Uzbekistan Airways operates regular flights to Belarus, Turkey, UAE, Kazakhstan.
Flights to Russia are carried out in the mode of special flights, only if there is a certificate with a negative result of the PCR test for COVID-19, as well as documents justifying the need to fly to the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan hopes to resume regular flights with Russia in March-April.
According to the Uzbek side, now the country meets all the criteria established by the Operational Headquarters of the Russian government to counter the spread of the coronavirus to restore regular flights.
According to Russian experts, at the first stage, there will be quotas for transportation in the Uzbek direction. This quota can be 2-3 flights a week on the route Moscow-Tashkent.
Source: atorus