Kazakhstan tightens COVID-19 restrictions

Nur-Sultan has been in the first place in the country in terms of daily caseload for several weeks now. The Kazakh capital has tightened its COVID-19 restrictions due to the alarming epidemiological situation. The opening hours of the shopping and entertainment centers will be from 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays and they are not allowed to work on weekends regardless of participation in the Ashyq project. Only the city’s pharmacies and grocery stores will work on weekends.

The epidemic situation is no better in a number of other regions of Kazakhstan. Thus, authorities of the West Kazakhstan region decided to restrict public transport services on weekends. The opening hours of banks and public service centers have also been reduced.

“Compared to the last year’s statistics, the number of recorded infections is 60- percent higher. In general, the epidemic situation in July is quite acute. Many hospitals simply do not have available beds. For example, currently, more than 98 percent of the beds in the regional clinical hospital are already occupied,” said Mukhamgali Aryspayev, Head of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Department of West Kazakhstan Region.

Meanwhile, in Almaty region, in addition to stopping public transport services on weekends, the work of outdoor and indoor beaches, water parks and amusement parks has also been suspended on weekdays regardless of participation in the Ashyq project. According to the new decree of the sanitary doctor, the eating facilities in Almaty region will be open only until 8 pm.

 

Translation by Assem Zhanmukhanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova