State Department raises travel alert for Azerbaijan over coronavirus

Washington on Friday raised its alert level for travel to Azerbaijan, warning Americans to reconsider traveling there due to a coronavirus outbreak and response measures implemented by the country's government, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports. 

The Government of Azerbaijan is "screening international travelers for symptoms of COVID-19 and has implemented mandatory quarantine for suspected cases in designated quarantine facilities. Travel restrictions imposed in other countries and reduced commercial flight availability may impede people seeking medical evacuation," a State Department statement says.

According to the authors, medical care in Azerbaijan is "not consistent with U.S. standards and basic medical supplies may be unavailable in some areas."

Travelers should consider these factors and their health before traveling to Azerbaijan and follow the Centers for Disease Control's guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus if they decide to travel.

The alert level for Azerbaijan was raised to Level 3, one below the highest warning classification.

On March 6, the State Department allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members.

Azerbaijan "has a longstanding risk presented by terrorist groups, who continue plotting possible attacks in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas," - reads the statement. 

A.Raufoglu 

Washington D.C.