Moldovan foreign ministry's specification on Moldovans from Coronavirus-hit regions

Chisinau, 5 February /MOLDPRES/ -  The Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE) makes the following specifications, following information appeared in public space on the refusal by an air company carrying out charter flights on the route Xian (China) – Yekaterinburg (Russia) to take Moldova’s citizens onboard the plane:    

The Embassies of Moldova in Beijing and, respectively, in Moscow, have been contacted by our citizens on the concerned issue. At the same time, our diplomatic missions came in touch with the air company which operated the flight, as well as the Russian Embassy in Beijing, which informed that the decision to take someone onboard the airship belongs to the air company and the latter complied with a decision by the Russian government from 1 February 2020 on limiting the flights to China.   

We mention that, as a result of the decision by Russia’s government, only the Russian citizens will be taken onboard for the charter flights from China; the authorities’ decision is explained by the wish to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. The flights of more companies, which were making flights between Russia and China, were suspended; one single company was allowed to make flights between Moscow, Sheremetyevo airport, and other Chinese cities.    

In a particular case, Moldova’s Embassy recommended that one Moldovan citizen, who wanted to travel by plane from Shanghai to Russia, who was notified by the air company about the cancellation of the flight, for which he had already a ticket, makes the flight through bypassing routes; as a result, the citizen bought already another ticket from Shanghai to Seoul (South Korea) and from there, he is continue his way to Russia.     

The Embassy of Moldova in Beijing is in permanent touch with the Chinese authorities, representatives of air companies, as well as Russia’s diplomatic mission in China, in order to clear up the similar situations and provide, at request, needed consular assistance. In emergency cases, Moldovan citizens from the People’s Republic of China can call the Embassy of Moldova in Beijing at the phone number +8618513292005.   

At the same time, as to possible Moldovan citizens identified onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess, we inform that, on 5 February, the Japanese authorities announced about the placement in quarantine for 14 days of the crew members and passengers of the sea ship, which entered the Yokohama port on 3 February.   

Two out of those 2,666 passengers and 1,045 members of the crew, onboard of the aforementioned ship, are citizens of Moldova. Our citizens informed our Diplomatic Mission that they cooperate with the Japanese authorities and carry out daily medical tests. At present, they do not have symptoms of the virus and their general condition is good.     

Moldova’s Embassy in Tokyo is in permanent touch with the two Moldovans and informs that, in emergency cases, our citizens from Japan can call the diplomatic mission at the phone number+810 80 8850 7372.      

MAEIE reiterates the message issued by the World Health Organization, which encourages the countries to approach the situation in a solidarity and cooperating way, so that eventual fake news does not trigger panic among residents.