Uzbekistan confirms first coronavirus case, closes schools, borders

An Uzbek citizen has tested positive for coronavirus after returning from France, Uzbekistan's Healthcare Ministry said on Sunday, marking the first infection from the virus in the Central Asian country of 34 million.

The Uzbek government said on the same day it was shutting down schools, colleges, and universities for three weeks from Monday and canceling all public events. Uzbekistan's state airline said on Sunday it was suspending or curbing flights to a number of cities in Western Europe, Asia, and the Middle East until the end of April.

The Tashkent government has also barred entry into the country by cars and said it would suspend international trains shortly, state news agency Uza reported.