Mongolian business owners glad to see lockdown measures ease in capital

Economy
ooluun@montsame.mn
2021-01-12 14:03:58

"I'm very happy that the strict COVID-19 restrictions have been loosened gradually, and we have been allowed to work," said

Ochirbat Ariunaa, a woman who runs a sewing workshop here in Mongolia's capital. Though the number of COVID-19 infections

is on the rise, Mongolia partially eased the COVID-19 lockdown measures in the country's capital Ulan Bator starting from

Monday with certain conditions to revive the economy and support businesses.

Employees of all types of trade and service organizations, except for 18 types of organizations such as stores carrying

non-food items, saunas, bars, hair and beauty salons, and fitness and entertainment centers, are being allowed to return to

work, but must obey strict safety guidelines.

The Mongolian Health Ministry is urging the trade and service organizations to strictly adhere to infection control measures

by disinfecting surfaces, keeping social distance, not serving customers who don't wear masks and checking their body

temperature. "COVID-19-related restrictions have become a big blow to small and medium-sized businesses like us," Ariunaa said.

Traditionally, during the White Moon festival or the Lunar New Year, people order a lot of traditional costumes, so her sewing

workshop earns most of its annual income around that time.

Yet this year, the Mongolian government has banned the celebration of the traditional White Moon festival or the Lunar New

Year due to the pandemic. "It is expected to take a long time for us to make up for the loss and make money like before,"

said Ariunaa.

Davaa Enktsetseg is the owner of a small coffee shop in Ulan Bator.

"Almost two months later, we returned to work today. There are now very few customers at the coffee shop," Enkhtsetseg said.

"If the pandemic continues for a long time and there will be a few people like today, our coffee shop will have to close its doors."

Enkhjargal Sumiya, a self-employed manicurist, worries about her prospects as manicurists are still not allowed to work.

"There are many people in this country like us who live on their daily income," she said, "I just want the COVID-19 pandemic to end

quickly."

Mongolia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020. Its first local transmission was detected in early November, when

a woman tested positive after her husband returning from Russia finished his 21-day mandatory quarantine.

The incident triggered a nationwide lockdown that was later extended in Ulan Bator and two provinces until Dec. 11. After

that, the Mongolian government reimposed lockdown measures in Ulan Bator, which was the hardest hit by the coronavirus

outbreak, from Dec. 23 to Jan. 6 and extended the strict all-day lockdown until Jan. 11 to curb resurging local cases.

As of Monday, the Asian country has reported 1,442 COVID-19 cases, more than two-thirds of which were locally transmitted.

The country, with a population of 3.3 million, has so far registered two COVID-19-related deaths and 896 recoveries.

                                                                                                                                                                         source: Xinhua