VILNIUS, Jun 19, BNS - The Lithuanian Health Ministry released on Friday an updated list of 47 countries that are most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The ministry removed Afghanistan, Andorra and Gibraltar from the list, but added Bangladesh, Guatemala, Israel, Mauritania, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The updated list comes into effect on Saturday. 

A country is considered affected if its COVID-19 infection count exceeds 25 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days.

Isolation is optional yet recommended for those returning or arriving from the countries on the list. They must register with the National Public Health Centre (NPHC) within 48 hours after they enter Lithuania. 

This applies both to Lithuanian nationals and to foreigners who hold a permit to enter Lithuania.

People displaying symptoms, such as cough, sneezing and difficulty breathing, are subject to mandatory isolation.

The 47 countries as as follows: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, the Central African Republic, Chile, Dominica, Djibouti, Ecuador, Gabon, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Iran, Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, the UAE, the Cayman Islands, Qatar, Colombia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Panama, Peru, South Africa, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Suriname, North Macedonia, Sweden, and Cape Verde.

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