VILNIUS – A ban for passenger cars to enter Lithuania from Belarus and Russian have come into force on midnight, and people will be able to enter from Latvia and Poland via two border checkpoints.

"As of midnight, it's impossible to enter Lithuania from Russian and Belarus via any border checkpoint. It does not apply to commercial transport," Giedrius Misutis, spokesman for Lithuania's State Border Guard Service, told BNS.

In his words, as of midnight, passenger cars are allowed to enter Lithuania only via Kalvarija-Budzisko border checkpoint on the Polish border and Salociai-Grenstale border checkpoint on the Latvian border. Lithuanian citizens, as well as foreigners travelling via the country in transit and foreigners with permits to reside and work in Lithuania are allowed entry.

As Lithuania does not restrict the movement of goods, commercial transport is still allowed to enter via other border checkpoints on the country's borders with Latvia, Poland, Russia and Belarus.

Ferry and air transport of passengers will be banned on the night to Saturday, only excluding the ferry route Kiel-Klaipeda-Kiel.

The movement restrictions will be in force during the whole quarantine time and be in place until at least April 13, with an extension already under consideration.

The Lithuanian government is also organizing a repatriation flight for Lithuanians from the UK on Friday night, and Lithuanian citizens will have an opportunity to come home from Milan.