Azerbaijan: Authorities announce phased easing of COVID-19 restrictions from April 27 /update 6

Event

On Friday, April 24, the Azerbaijani government announced that certain shops will be allowed to reopen and some business sectors to resume operations from Monday, April, 27, as part of plans to gradually ease restrictions that have been in place to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As of Monday, some administrative offices and many retail shops will be allowed to reopen, including electronic stores, book shops, newsagents and clothes retailers. Malls and shopping centers will remain closed, as will educational institutions. Those returning to work will need to gain permits from their employers on the government portal. Those who do not have permits will still have to obtain passes to visit shops, banks, and medical institutions. The time allotted for the passes will be increased from two hours to three.

Lockdown measures were initially imposed on Tuesday, March 24, and have since been extended until Monday, May 4. Under the measures, individuals over the age of 65 are prohibited from leaving their homes. The country's borders with neighboring Georgia and Iran also remain closed. Travel to and from the capital Baku, Sumgayit and Absheron is restricted, except for special-purpose vehicles and cargo transportation vehicles. Passenger transportation between cities and districts remains suspended, as is the operation of all shopping centers, except for grocery stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies. Further, public gatherings of more than ten people have been banned, while walking in parks and boulevards continue to be prohibited. A suspension on all commercial passenger flights arriving into and departing from Azerbaijan remains in place until Monday, May 4.

To date, there have been 1592 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Azerbaijan, including 21 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the coming days and weeks.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.