Kazakhstan Extends its Quarantine

Kazakhstan’s President  Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared an extension of its emergency declaration in the country. 

«On April 15 an emergency introduced by my edict will expire. However, it’s clear that we should elongate the emergency at least until the end of April. The country hasn’t gone through the peak of coronavirus yet. We can’t simplify the situation with the epidemic. Therefore I order to elongate the quarantine in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, and Shymkent as well as in relevant oblasts (regions). I fully understand that it’s an unpopular decision. People want to go outside and live the way they did before. Unfortunately, there is no choice but quarantine and self-isolation. All virology specialists here in Kazakhstan and abroad say that,» President Tokayev stated during a meeting of the State Commission on Emergency. 

The first case of coronavirus in Kazakhstan was reported on March 13. On March 16 President Tokayev declared an emergency.  A quarantine was then introduced in Almaty, Nur-Sultan, and Shymkent. 

There were 802 COVID-19 cases reported in the country since then; 60 patients have recovered and nine have died.