Employees wearing protective masks, used as a measure against COVID-19, process potatoes in a vegetable store in the village of Vinsady in the Stavropol region of Russia, March 27, 2020. /Reuters
Russia will temporarily close its borders starting from March 30 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said a document published on the website of the Russian government on Saturday.
According to the document, the measure will come into force at all vehicle, rail and pedestrian checkpoints, and also apply to Russia's maritime borders.
The ban does not apply to diplomats and their families, couriers and couriers of diplomatic relations, as well as members of official delegations leaving the country.
The country has reported 1,264 confirmed COVID-19 cases with four deaths.