Russian government halts operation of 31 checkpoints on Russian border

The Russian government has taken a decision to halt the operation of 31 out of the 52 checkpoints on the Russian border with China and Mongolia because of the spread of atypical pneumonia. Russian head sanitary physician Gennady Onishchenko said as much when summing up a Cabinet session just over.

According to him, for how long these checkpoints will be closed will depend on the general situation with the spread of the dangerous virus.

"At issue are those checkpoints which let pass a few dozens of people daily," the head sanitary physician said. "All the major checkpoints will stay open." Yet, he said, the number of entrants from China has lately reduced by 50 to 75 per cent.