Some 85 thousand people have applied to leave Ulaanbaatar and travel to the provinces. This comes after Mongolia announced a nationwide lockdown in mid–November. The government declared asecond-degree emergency situation after confirming the first local transmission of Covid-19 in the country of three million. It is worth noting that just over half the population of the country lives in the capital.  This came as a shock for many people who have been arrived in Ulaanbaatar for work, medical treatment and family or personal reasons. At the same time, some 5300 people have applied to travel to Ulaanbaatar from the nation’s 21 provinces.

Therefore, the National Emergency Commission of Mongolia has decided to open roads connecting provinces with capital city for 10 days from 1 December. People trapped in Ulaanbaatar will be able to return home by buses and private cars after taking Covid-19 tests. After returning home, they will have to isolate themselves for 14 days and to take another test.

Roads to the five provinces where local transmissions have already been reported will open from 7 December.