Yesterday afternoon, Mongolia’s National Emergency Commission took the difficult decision of suspending the traditional wrestling competition for Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year). This is the first time in generations that the much-loved wrestling competition has not taken place. In addition, the commission advised people to celebrate the Tsagaan Sar privately and avoid travelling. Just as with Chinese New Year, which this year has just taken place, Tsagaan Sar – or the Festival of the White Moon, it the most important family celebration of the year, when families are re-united and it is the custom to pay visits on relatives and friends.

Tsagaan Sar is indeed a great family celebration with many ceremonies, which last three days. Tsagaan Sar traditions are several centuries old and Mongolians really respect them.

The decision is aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases and comes in the context of the Wuhan coronavirus threat. Mongolia has no confirmed cases as of 28 January according to the Health Ministry and the delegation of the World Health Organisation in Ulaanbaatar. So far a total of 29 suspected people who returned from China have been carefully checked: 14 of them were coronavirus negative, however, 13 people are still under observation at the National Centre for Communicable Diseases.