COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan

[10] On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.

[18] As a result, the protection of public order and especially important state and strategic facilities were strengthened, operations of shopping centers, cinemas and exhibitions were suspended, as well as mass gatherings, including family, memorial and sports were prohibited.

[21] During that period, the two cities were divided into sectional zones and creating roadblocks to control accessibility, limiting the movement by residents, regulating the treatment operations for medical institutions in which the infected patients or who were suspected of coming into contact with virus.

[23] He also announced that domestic flights between Almaty and Astana would begin operating again on 1 May 2020 and from there, urged the Kazakhstani public "to carefully consider all precautionary measures, to develop regulations for the interaction of aviation and sanitary-epidemiological services.

[25] Chief Sanitary Doctor Aijan Esmağambetova signed a resolution "On further strengthening measures to prevent coronavirus infection among the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan".

[26] Since the state of emergency being lifted, President Tokayev called on the government and local officials to solve the issues in regards quarantine measures that remained in place, stressing that the Kazakhstani public had failed in continuing following guidelines as restrictions weren't observed properly.

[27] Healthcare Minister Eljan Birtanov on 4 June 2020 announced that a second wave of infections had begun in Kazakhstan and warning prior, that placing new restrictions would be a blow to the Kazakh economy expressing his personal opposition to the proposal, noting that the introduction of a strict quarantine is "not a solution.

"[28] On 18 June 2020, it was reported that a nationwide restriction in Kazakhstan would be reintroduced from 20 June 2020 following a sharp increase in number of COVID-19 cases as restriction guidelines throughout the regions were lifted off and several government officials including healthcare minister Eljan Birtanov and former president Nursultan Nazarbayev testing positive for the virus, with Tokayev earlier asserting that regional quarantine measures remain in difficult position due to "mass noncompliance by citizens" although confidently assuring that they are "under the control of the government.

"[29] This led to a cancellation of demonstration for animal rights which were due to be held in Almaty on 20 June and public transport in Astana being shut down for a weekend to carry out disinfection work.

[32] During a cabinet meeting on 29 June 2020, Tokayev announced the possibility in returning a lockdown similarly that was introduced at the start of the pandemic in March in order to "stabilize the current epidemiological situation" by instructing the state commission to form a proposal in carrying out the policy while ensuring centralised control over the distribution of critical resources.

"[34] On 13 July 2020, Tokayev announced that a lockdown would be extended until the end of the month, adding that a "quarantine is necessary to protect the health of citizens, provided that they comply with strict self-defense measures.

"[35] A cabinet meeting between officials were held the following day on 14 July from which the restrictions would be in place until 2 August 2020 with Askar Mamin urging all Kazakhstanis to strictly adhere to quarantine measures.

[36] On 27 July, Healthcare Minister Alexey Tsoi announced that the pandemic situation had stabilised, pointing out that the number of COVID-19 patients in occupancy had decreased from 90% to 47%, suggesting that the easing of restrictions was plausible.

[42] At the Central Communications Service on 14 October, Tsoi suggested that another state of emergency could be introduced if the pandemic situation worsens in the country, not ruling out strict measures.

[43] From there, he called on all Kazakh citizens to wear masks, practice social distancing, and avoiding mass gatherings in order to prevent state of emergency being enacted.

Prime Minister Askar Mamin at a conference call of the Interdepartmental Commission (IMC) instructed local officials to take necessary restrictive measures in stopping the transmission of the virus and attention to the need of high-quality sanitization in public spaces and educational institutions as well as preparation for sites to be used as COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

[47] On 26 January 2021, Healthcare Minister Alexey Tsoi suggested that Kazakhstan may impose a strict quarantine in order to prevent hospital burdens, warning of a possible "pessimistic scenario" where daily infections are at 9,000 and bed occupancy reaching 45,000.

Tsoi recalled the probability of 3,000 daily infections is possible at the end of March while Kazakh health experts suggested that 2 million persons getting their shots in the first half of 2021 would help to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases to 40,000.

[52] Deputy Prime Minister Eraly Togjanov suggested that the government would consider in strengthening restriction measures in spite of the stable epidemiological situation, pointing out rapid spread of the COVID-19 worldwide.

[58] As cases were decreasing and more than 70% of the Kazakhstan's eligible population had received a COVID-19 vaccine, Healthcare Minister Alexey Tsoi announced more easing of restrictions from 20 October 2021.

[citation needed] On 20 March 2020, the first case of the COVID-19 was confirmed by two plane passengers on board from Minsk to Astana, in which the flight made its emergency landing in Karaganda as a result.

It was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbayev, which included all the intrigued governmental bodies and akims of the regions and cities of Astana, Alma-Ata and Shymkent.

150 sanitary and epidemiological service specialists were additionally sent to quarantine centers at all borders, a laboratory diagnosis of the virus was established, and clinical treatment protocols and algorithms of anti-epidemic measures were approved.

[82] On 23 February, a flight carrying passengers from Tokyo to Astana was quarantined which included 20 Kazakhs and 4 people from the Diamond Princess cruise, that faced the outbreak of the COVID-19 on board.

[82] The ministry said that there were no cases of virus in which the statement received criticism from the public which claimed that the coronavirus was already in Kazakhstan considering its close proximity and shared border with China that remained open for a while prior.

[87] This led to many rumors that the Kazakh government was purposely hiding the cases of COVID-19 in the country to which the Minister of Information and Public Development Dauren Abaev dismissed these claims on 12 March.

[92] By the decision of the operational headquarters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Astana, all air passengers arriving from abroad were forbidden to travel to the city without passing analysis and obtaining results on the virus.

[94] The mayor of Almaty, Bakytzhan Sagintayev said that to support the people who found themselves in difficulty, he agreed with the monopolists to defer payments on all utility services, including an elevator and garbage collection.

Nine roadblocks were put up around the entire perimeter of the region, residents were restricted from leaving apartments and houses after 22:00, except for going to pharmacies and grocery stores within the radius of their residence, to work and cases of seeking medical help, the disinfection and anti-epidemic regime was strengthened, including public transport, crowded places, shops, shopping centers and houses, residential buildings, and at bus stops.

[105][106] On 2 April, an entry and exit to the quarantine zone of the Karaganda Region was completely closed, and the activities of airports, air and railway stations have been discontinued.