Kazakhstan records increase in COVID-19 cases

Coronavirus flares up again. Kazakhstan has recorded an increase in the infection cases by 4 percent over the past week, seeing growth of contagion with COVID-19 in the capital by 40 percent. Kazakh Health Minister Alexey Tsoy announced this data at a government meeting. According to him, the research results showed that the virus continues to mutate rapidly. In Nur-Sultan, the day before, experts detected the high possibility of a new delta variant, the so-called “Indian strain” after the results of PCR testing of infected patients.

“The delta strain of coronavirus is highly contagious and 60 percent more infectious than the variants found before. It has a shorter incubation period of up to seven days. The latest research show that the Indian strain of coronavirus carries a greater risk of hospitalization and fatalities. New clinical symptoms appeared, such as severe joint and abdominal pain, intestinal symptoms, hearing loss. According to the World Health Organization, the delta strain SARS-CoV-2 was found in 74 countries,” Tsoy said.

Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin said that despite the fact that the situation in Kazakhstan is stable, the conditions in neighboring countries continue to worsen. He instructed to strengthen monitoring the state border as well as draw special attention to the strict observance of sanitary and epidemiological rules. Experts also call on residents of the country not to neglect vaccination drive. In addition, do not forget to maintain distance and wear masks.

Translation by Saniya Sakenova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova