ALMATY — Authorities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have announced fresh restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus as the number of cases in Central Asia rose. The government of Kyrgyzstan, where the number of coronavirus cases more than doubled on Saturday to 14, declared a month-long state of emergency from Sunday and said it would shut down public transportation in the capital, Bishkek. The cabinet urged citizens to minimize travel and said it has already locked down the provincial districts where the infection had been diagnosed. In Kazakhstan, where 53 cases have been confirmed, authorities said they were closing all parks in Almaty, the country's biggest city, which was this week put on lockdown along with the capital, Nur-Sultan.

Source: International New York Times March 21, 2020 05:53 UTC