Kazakhstan to Introduce New Lockdown in Nur-Sultan

A new lockdown in Nur-Sultan will be put in place on March 18 right before the national holiday Nauryz. According to local authorities, they were forced to do that because of a sharp surge in COVID-19 cases in the city.

On Sunday, March 21 all shopping and recreation centers (except those where pharmacies and grocery stores are located), covered marketplaces, public service centers, covered stadiums and post offices should stop their work for the whole day. 

Public transport will also not be working that day and all buses should pass through disinfection. 

On Saturday and Sunday, the government does not allow work of fitness centers and clubs, sports and recreational centers, saunas, and spa centers except those which are part of the Ashyq pilot project.

According to the chief sanitary doctor of Nur-Sultan Sarkhat Beysenova the epidemiological situation in the city is not stable. Therefore, no Nauryz public celebrations are allowed.

«We should do whatever we can to prevent new cases to avoid a crisis in the health system, so we have to follow strict sanitary rules: to wear face masks and keep social distance,» she said. 

Since March 18, the public food industry (restaurants, cafés, bars and dining rooms) should limit working hours to between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Earlier, Nur-Sultan health officials reported 157 new coronavirus cases.