Today (19 March), Mongolia confirmed 160 new cases of COVID-19 after testing 24482 samples nationwide. So far, Mongolia has 4658 confirmed cases of coronavirus; over 90 percent of them are now locally transmitted.

There has been a daily three-digit rise in the number of confirmed cases in Mongolia since 8 March. Whilst the figures are very modest in comparison with most countries, one needs to understand that Mongolia’s tough defence strategy against the virus had been a great success with only four deaths from COVID-19 and zero local transmission until November.

This tough approach to the virus is continuing. According to Ts.Ganzorig, Chairman of the Government Media and Public Relations Office, Mongolia will issue strict-lockdown if daily COVID-19 cases exceed 200.