Russia plans to resume some international flights from August. 1, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said on Friday, but the list of destinations will initially be limited to Tanzania, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
International flights were grounded on March 30 after the imposition of lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 800,000 people in Russia.
Specifically, she said flights would resume to and from London, Turkish cities Istanbul and Ankara and the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania from August. 1. More holiday destinations in Turkey would be added from August. 10, Golikova added.
“Foreigners arriving in Russia will need to present negative coronavirus test results taken within the past 72 hours to be allowed entry,” she added.
Russia has not yet reopened its borders to all foreigners.
Speaking on state television, she added that authorities were working on a list of more countries where air travel could be resumed on a mutual basis.
Russia grounded nearly all international flights in late March to slow the coronavirus outbreak, allowing only special flights evacuating Russians from abroad and other flights authorized by the government.
Russia confirmed 5,811 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 800,849.
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Russia will officially be reopening its borders for international tourism beginning on July 15th according to a new government decree.
Russia will no longer require foreigners to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival as the country looks to begin reopening to international tourism.
Those arriving in Russia will need to present English or Russian-language proof that they have tested negative for the coronavirus in the past 72 hours to be allowed entry.
Interfax has published a list of thirteen countries with which Russia could resume flights in the near future. In addition to China and Vietnam, the list includes seven European countries – such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
The Czech Republic is not mentioned in the list, yet. However, Aeroflot and its subsidiary Rossija have been offering two-way flights between Prague and Moscow since August 1.
According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Golikova, the government will evaluate the epidemiological situation in individual countries every two weeks. The main criterion will be the number of infected: it should not exceed 40 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The average daily increase in the number of people infected and the rate of spread of the disease in such states should not exceed one percent.
According to Golikova, reopening of flight routes would be based on the principle of reciprocity, ie to countries that already allow Russian citizens to enter (for example, Croatia).
Russia fully closed air service with other countries, except flights to bring back Russian nationals, freight and mail carriage flights, at the end of March on the back of the coronavirus pandemic. Regular and charter international flights have been fully suspended since March 27.
The epidemiological situation in Russia is gradually improving.
Russia confirmed 6,422 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 746,369. Over the past 24 hours, 156 people have died, bringing the total toll to 11,770 — a rate considerably lower than in many other countries hit hard by the pandemic.
A total of 10,424 people recovered over the last 24 hours, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 523,249.
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