Mongolia Travel Warning

Issued by US Department of State

Feb 26, 2020

Reconsider Travel in Mongolia due to travel and transport restrictions related to Mongolia’s response to an outbreak in the neighboring People’s Republic of China of COVID-19.

On February 25, 2020, the Department of State allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. Government employees and their family members due to travel, transport, and other restrictions related to Mongolia’s response to an outbreak in the neighboring People’s Republic of China of COVID-19 (the “novel coronavirus,” also known as the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2).

There is an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in the People’s Republic of China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.  The virus originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, but cases have been confirmed throughout the People’s Republic of China and elsewhere in the region.

As of February 25, 2020, no COVID-19 cases have been found in Mongolia, but the country’s health system continues to be taxed by normal seasonal illnesses. Hospital capacity in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, continues to decrease, and travel restrictions may impede those people seeking medical evacuation.  Travelers should consider these factors and their health before traveling to Mongolia and follow the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus if they decide to travel.

The Government of Mongolia has announced several precautionary measures, including:

• Limiting flights in and out of Mongolia.  All flights from the Republic of Korea (South Korea) are cancelled through at least March 2; all flights from the People’s Republic of China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau; and, all flights from Taiwan, are cancelled until further notice.
• Until further notice, foreign citizens who have transited the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, or who have transited through Taiwan since January 1, 2020, including U.S. citizens, are prohibited from entering Mongolia.
• Until at least February 27, 2020, all intra-provincial travel is prohibited.
• All schools and institutions of higher learning are closed until March 30, 2020.
• All public gatherings, events, and meetings, such as conferences, sporting events, and concerts, are prohibited.
• School age children are prohibited from public locations such as restaurants and shopping malls.
• Restaurants, bars, and other public locations are mandated to close at 12:00 AM.

Health officials have quarantined some Mongolian travelers returning from Wuhan, China and are actively screening passengers for COVID-19 symptoms at land borders, airports, and at inspection points on roads into the capital Ulaanbaatar.

If you travel to Mongolia, you should:

• Have a plan to depart Mongolia which does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• See https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/novel-coronavirus-china and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/novel-coronavirus-2019.html for additional guidance.

Last Update: updated with increased Advisory level due to the coronavirus outbreak.