Tashkent, Sept. 18 -- Uzbekistan has allowed tour operators to organize group tours for foreign citizens to visit the country from Oct. 1, the country's special commission on COVID-19 said Friday.

Tour operators will be able to bring in foreign tourist groups of between five and 15 people, and must ensure that visitors are free from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the commission said.

Members of foreign tourist groups with a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests should not be subject to 14-day quarantine restrictions, and should not face additional tests upon arrival in Uzbekistan, according to the commission's decision.

However, if coronavirus symptoms appear upon arrival, tourists should take a paid PCR or e...