Mongolia reported the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in its country on Tuesday, Mar. 10, according to Reuters.

French national who works in Mongolia tested positive on Mar. 10

The patient is a 57-year-old French national who works for Badrakh Energy in the southern Dornogovi province.

He travelled to Mongolia from France and transited through Moscow.

He is currently in a stable condition.

A total of 42 people whom he had met up with have been identified by the Mongolian government.

In addition, 120 individuals who had close contact with the patient have also been identified.

Mongolia locks down cities for six days

On the same day, Mongolia has stepped up its measures to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

The country has barred anyone from entering or leaving its cities for six days.

Mongolia's Deputy Prime Minister, Enkhtuvshin Ulziisaikhan, said in a press conference that the capital Ulaanbaatar and all province centres will be quarantined until Mar. 16.

Mongolia, which has a population of three million, had already sealed its border with neighbouring China, reported Reuters.

It had also banned flights from Japan and South Korea.

At the same time, schools in Mongolia will be suspended til the end of March 2020.

Italy also under lockdown

Meanwhile, a similar situation occurred in Italy on Tuesday (Mar. 10).

Italy's Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, stated in a press conference that he would extend red zone restrictions in the north of Italy to the entire country.

More than 60 million Italians are affected by the country's total lockdown.

Top photo by Adli Wahid via Unsplash.